National unity cabinet with president”s ministers acting as “swing votes”
Today, and despite the successful democratic parliamentary elections accomplished on a national scale, the political leadership of our country remain once again faced with the same previously witnessed dilemma of satisfying different conflicting demands and conditions.
Situation: The country is still divided politically between two major groups who are backing opposing agendas and supporting contrasting priorities. Various local and international efforts are being exerted towards rebuilding confidence and achieving acceptable levels of common denominators. While seemingly everyone declares having Lebanon”s best interests at heart, the lack of mutual trust is creating a divergence in opinions resulting in the continued frustration of our increasingly anxious population.
Format: The proposed solution is through a real "National Unity Government" comprising of:
l 16 ministers from the majority (March 14 and allies)
l 8 ministers from the opposition (March 8 and allies)
l 6 independent ministers (Prominent young professionals and leading personalities)
Concept: The unique element is to appoint the six independent ministers by the president with the important symbolic prerequisite that they be chosen on the basis of one from each of the major religious sects (Maronite, Orthodox, Catholic, Sunni, Shiite, Druze).
Objective: The practical achievement of having no one political faction automatically obtaining neither a 2/3 controlling vote nor a 1/3 blocking vote. In addition to the important consequence of not enabling either group to claim that they have a monopoly over any religious representation.
Procedure:The Majority will hold a simple lead (50 percent + 1) for ordinary decisions; they still require votes from at least five of the President”s appointed ministers for an absolute lead needed for major strategic decisions (more than 2/3, 16+5=21).
The opposition, on the other hand, will not control the blocking minority (33.3 percent + 1) for any major decisions or for a forceful resignation of the government; instead they still require votes from at least three of the president”s appointed ministers for such matters (more than 1/3, 8+3=11).
Focus: The complexity of the urgent issues on hand requires practical and innovative solutions to the diverse topics of discord in order to successfully remedy political conflicts. Once a properly representative yet fully operational government is appointed, then it will become easier to tackle other pending priorities such as:
l A consensus on an national socio-economic development program
l An agreement on Lebanon”s regional & international strategic positioning
l A positive vote on an new electoral law remedying present deficiencies
l An urgent solution to the many other pending areas of great importance
In conclusion, the nomination by the president of the six independent ministers representing the main religious sects and acting as the "swing votes," will hopefully be met with overwhelming acceptance. Such appointments based on a fully transparent methodology in accordance with strict eligibility criteria shall undoubtedly add positive value to the government from the contributions of "young" non-Partisan professionals.
May the above proposal create a real Win-Win-Win situation, leading to a prosperous future for our beloved country!