Suleiman Upset … No Government Soon
President Michel Suleiman was on Wednesday reportedly frustrated with Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun over his position regarding the new cabinet.
Sources close to Suleiman said the president is "frustrated with Aoun”s position regarding the cabinet, since (Suleiman) is getting only three seats out of a 30-member government."
They quoted Suleiman as saying that he will not stay handcuffed when it comes to issues such as the "privileges of the presidency."
Suleiman, however, made sure not to voice his displeasure publicly "in order to facilitate efforts to achieve a deal over the government," according to the sources.
On Tuesday, Aoun said that his proposal to give Suleiman one Christian and one Muslim minister leaves "one Christian and one Muslim minister for the opposition."
He also insisted that the FPM "is not here to obstruct" the creation of the new cabinet, reiterating his "concern with portfolios, rather than particular names."
Aoun said any opposition to specific nominees for cabinet portfolios was linked to "political leanings" and not "personal disputes."
Sources with the pro-government ruling majority said hopes for reaching a settlement over the cabinet line-up next week faded following the negative position that emerged from the Suleiman-Aoun meeting.
Hizbullah, meanwhile, said the cabinet issue was "simple."
Sources close to the opposition blamed Prime Minister-designate Fouad Saniora for the delay in announcing the new cabinet.
"There seems to be a preference for controlling certain portfolios than accelerating the Doha process," one source said.