Conflicting Reports on Cabinet Formation Obstacles as FPM Seeks to Clinch a Good Deal

Premier-designate Najib Miqati intensified contacts aimed at forming the cabinet and met with Speaker Nabih Berri, Hizbullah chief’s political assistant Hussein Khalil, Free Patriotic Movement officials, March 14 representatives and MP Tammam Salam.

The latest contacts delayed the formation of the government until next week.

A source close to the PM-designate said Miqati was not encountering “major hurdles” in his attempts to form the cabinet. “The various parties are making conflicting demands concerning the portfolios which the premier-designate is trying to reconcile,” he told The Daily Star.

Miqati’s circles also told An Nahar daily that contacts with FPM leader Michel Aoun were not facing obstacles. “Every person has demands on his share (in the cabinet) but the prime minister is the one who balances the cabinet line-up in coordination with the president,” they said.

In remarks to As Safir, Miqati’s circles did not rule out a meeting between Miqati and Aoun over the weekend.

However, pan-Arab daily al-Hayat said Aoun was making crippling demands and Hizbullah was mediating “to reach a common ground to bridge differences” between him and the PM-designate and facilitate the cabinet formation process.

It quoted sources as saying that the resumption of contacts between Miqati and the March 14 forces would ease Aoun’s conditions. The MP reportedly insists on being represented by minimum 8 ministers if the cabinet would be made up of 30 ministers.

MP Ibrahim Kenaan, who is a member of Aoun’s Change and Reform bloc, told pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat that Aoun’s demand for the biggest share in the cabinet is natural given that he has the largest Christian representation.

“This is not a crippling demand or an attack on anybody’s rights,” Kenaan stressed.

He rejected giving President Michel Suleiman shares in the cabinet, saying the head of state does not have representatives in parliament.

“The president was given shares in the previous national unity government so that he plays a balancing role. But since a one-sided cabinet will be formed now, the previous balance is no longer needed,” Kenaan said.