Hariri to start consultations on makeup of next cabinet
Premier-designate stresses need to “open new page”
Lebanon”s Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri will conduct on Monday parliamentary deliberations over the make-up of the next government, a process that could take days or weeks to conclude.
The Future Movement leader, who was appointed via a decree signed by President Michel Sleiman for the post of prime minister on Saturday, was nominated by a total of 85 lawmakers out of 128.
"We will begin consultations with all parliamentary blocs based on our commitment to a national unity government in which all main blocs are represented and which is harmonious, functional and free of obstruction and paralysis," Hariri said.
In preparation for Monday”s consultations, Hariri paid on Sunday a series of visits to former prime ministers and current caretaker Premier MP Fouad Siniora.
Following talks with Siniora, Hariri stressed the need to put an end to internal divisions in order to "open a new page."
Earlier on Sunday, Hariri met Reform and Change bloc leader MP Michel Aoun, and described the meeting as "a good one," without further elaboration.
The Future Movement leader also visited former Premiers Amin al-Hafez, Rachid al-Solh, Salim al-Hoss, Najib Mikati and Omar Karami.
In reaction to Hariri”s nomination, French President Nicolas Sarkozy welcomed the designation of the Future Movement leader for the post and stressed his country”s "strict support for a sovereign Lebanese state."
All 71 MPs of the March 14 coalition, in addition to lawmakers of Speaker Nabih Berri”s Liberation and Development bloc and two MPs from the Armenian Tashnag party, had voted in favor of Hariri during two-day binding parliamentary consultations with Sleiman.
But two opposition groups, the Reform and Change bloc and Hizbullah, did not name Hariri, and tied their willingness to cooperate with the new premier with the "true" representation of opposition forces in a national-unity Cabinet.
Berri had expressed a similar stance following talks with the president last week.
However, in his acceptance speech, Hariri indicated that he would not give the Hizbullah-led opposition veto power in the new cabinet. He said he seeks a government "that can achieve, one that is free of obstacles and paralysis."
According to pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat on Sunday, sources close to the opposition said the group demanded either proportional representation or veto power in order to participate in a government headed by Hariri.
Loyalty to Resistance bloc leader MP Mohammad Raad said on Sunday that the opposition”s only demand was a national unity government. Raad also expressed the will to join forces "with anyone looking to bolster state institutions and strengthen national unity."
Other Hizbullah MPs Hassan Fadlallah and Nawaf al-Moussawi stressed on Sunday that the opposition”s stance concerning the next Cabinet formation was unified.
According to An-Nahar, Fadlallah said the opposition was waiting for the outcome of consultations conducted by Hariri "to decide whether or not it will participate in the next Cabinet."
In a statement to Saudi daily Ash-Sharq al-Awsat, Moussawi said on Sunday that deliberations over the next government mainly focused of the need to achieve consensus and implement constitutional provisions, "rather than the distribution of shares."
Moussawi stressed the need for "active and real partnership if the opposition is to agree to join the so-called national unity Cabinet."
A report published by Al-Hayat on Sunday said that Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah rejected a proposal by Hariri with regard to the formation of the next Cabinet during their evening meeting last week. According to the report, the offer by Hariri granted the majority 16 ministers, the opposition 10 and the president 4.
Hence, the formula stripped the opposition of the blocking third and therefore granted the president the tipping voice.