Siniora and Abu Jamra cut deal to define deputy PM”s powers
Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and his deputy, Issam Abu Jamra, agreed Friday on a mechanism to define the authorities and powers of the deputy premier. Abu Jamra visited President Michel Sleiman at the Presidential Palace later on Friday to brief him on the agreement, which was reached during a meeting between Siniora and the deputy prime minister at the Grand Serail in the presence of Minister of State for Administrative Development Ibrahim Shamseddine.
Abu Jamra said after meeting Siniora that he has agreed with the prime minister on a "mechanism to define" his powers.
He added that the mechanism would be discussed during next week”s Cabinet session.
"The Cabinet will have the final say on this issue and I will respect its decision," he said.
Siniora, however, said raising the issue during the next Cabinet meeting was still under study. "In the meantime, we should focus on calming the situation and reducing tension," he added.
Shamseddine described the Siniora-Abu Jamra meeting as positive, adding that relations between the two men were no longer tense.
Abu Jamra, who withdrew from Tuesday”s Cabinet session to protest a failure to discuss his proposal to define the powers of the deputy premier, threatened late on Thursday to boycott Cabinet sessions at the Grand Serail if Siniora continued to ignore his request.
Abu Jamra told LBC television that he was still demanding to have an office of his own at the government headquarters.