March 14 bloc nominates Siniora to head new unity government
The March 14 coalition announced just before midnight on Tuesday their nomination of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora to head the next Cabinet. The announcement came on the eve of binding consultations between newly elected President Michel Suleiman and Parliament.
The Lebanese Constitution requires presidents to conduct consultations with the members of Parliament before naming a prime minister, with whom a government is then put together.
Suleiman met with various Lebanese political figures and foreign dignitaries on Tuesday, his second day in Baabda Palace, including outgoing Siniora, Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal al-Saud and France”s Charge d”Affaires to Lebanon Andre Parant.
The meetings come as the president is set to oversee the implementation of the next phase of the Doha process, with the required consultations for the appointment of a prime minister and the subsequent formation of a national unity government representing the next immediate steps before a more comprehensive dialogue is considered.
Suleiman thanked Siniora for leading the government during the past few years and expressed his appreciation for "the efforts put forth by all ministers during that time." The president also urged ministers to continue their work "until the formation of a new Cabinet is completed."
After meeting with Suleiman, Siniora explained that his government is now officially considered to be resigned, in accordance with "the president”s decision and Article 69 of the Constitution," but added that it would – as is also legally required – act as a caretaker government until a new Cabinet is formed.
Siniora gave no clear indication as to whether he would again serve as premier in the year-long window between now and the 2009 parliamentary polls, saying he might consider the matter if a majority in Parliament put his name forward, while adding that he would not discuss the matter further as long as "the [March 14 parliamentary] majority [coalition] has yet to adopt a formal position."
Asked if he envisioned the smooth implementation of the entire Doha deal, Siniora said the "Doha agreement is important and touches upon several key issues that must be addressed, such as precluding the internal use of arms and utilizing a particular [modified 1960] electoral framework."
Also Tuesday, the Future Movement led by MP Saad Hariri met in Qoreitem to "discuss political developments relating to the Doha agreement," according to a statement read out by MP Mohammad Qabbani afterward.
Qabbani also said the Future Movement had delegated Hariri to "handle and complete discussions with our allies in the March 14 coalition in order to coordinate our stance during the upcoming, binding parliamentary consultations [regarding the premiership]."
Lebanese Forces (LF) MP Antoine Zahra told the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC) that he believed "MP Saad Hariri and Premier Fouad Siniora are the only two candidates for the premiership."
On the other hand, sources with the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) told the Central News Agency (CNA) that the party”s bloc in Parliament will "not be naming either Saad Hariri or Fouad Siniora during [parliamentary] consultations."
The FPM source said the party links the "withdrawal of [FPM chief] MP Michel Aoun from the battle for the presidency to the need for [Hariri] to step out of contention for the premiership," adding that the FPM is opposed to Siniora”s return to office "in any way, shape or form."
CNA also quoted a source close to the LF as saying that the nature of its share in Cabinet would be determined within the context of the broader composition of the new government.
The source said LF chief Samir Geagea may "participate in Cabinet if it was constituted by party bosses," but that other individuals would represent the LF should Cabinet be structured differently.
The consultations are scheduled for between 10:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, before Suleiman and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri convene to translate the will of Parliament into a selection of a prime minister.