Another math formula for Lebanon unity government

 

Arab diplomatic source in Beirut told al Markaziyeh news agency today that since both the opposition and the majority trust General Suleiman and since both want to see an enhanced role for the presidency.

 

Then the best math formula for a unity government should be

 

As follows:

8- 10 – 12
8 to be the number of the opposition ministers
10 to be the number of the majority ministers
12 to be the number of the president’s ministers

 

The share for the opposition and the majority is based on their proportional representation in the parliament . 45 % for the opposition and 55 % for the majority.

 

In this case neither the majority nor the minority gets a blocking third in the cabinet . Even if the majority and opposition agree on a specific legislation , they will still need the vote of the ministers of the president to pass any bills.

 

Arab league chief Amr Moussa traveled to Beirut last week to broker an end to the crises but was faced with obstacles by the Iranian and Syrian backed opposition, that resulted in the failure of his mission.

 

One major obstacle was the formation of a government of national unity . The opposition was insisting on a formula of 10 – 10 – 10.

 

Which translates into 10 ministers each for the opposition, majority an the president .

 

The majority has refused to discuss any government formulation, because they consider such discussions as infringement on the authority of the president, since according to the constitution the president should consult with the parliament before deciding on the prime minister and the cabinet.

 

Lebanon has been without a president since November 23, 2007, when the term of the pro-Syrian president Emile Lahoud expired.

 

Army chief General Michel Suleiman was nominated to be the next president , but the opposition is insisting on a whole basket of demands before they agree to go ahead and elect him. The majority calls these demands extortion and blackmail.

 

The Hezbollah-led opposition has appointed general Michel Aoun to negotiate the basket of demands , but the majority has refused to negotiate with Aoun, on the basis that he is not the decision maker and is being used as a tool by Hezbollah . The majority considers Aoun the problem and hence is not qualified to come up with any solutions to end the crises.