Hariri Launches Talks with Opposition on Cabinet Line-Up
Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri kicks off Tuesday a series of meetings with the Hizbullah-led opposition to discuss formation of a national unity government.
The daily An-Nahar, citing sources from the majority March 14 coalition, said an official Hariri delegation is expected to visit Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun on Tuesday.
Al-Liwaa newspaper, however, quoted Hariri sources as saying the designated premier will meet Tuesday Aoun”s envoy, Telecommunications Minister Jebran Bassil.
It said another meeting is likely to take place between Hariri and Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
Pan-Arab al-Hayat daily, meanwhile, said discussions focused on the makeup of the government without entering the name game or distribution of portfolios.
Political sources, meanwhile, told As-Safir newspaper that President Michel Suleiman grabbed on to his demand for at least six ministers in the new cabinet, including four Christians and two Muslims.
They ruled out that Hariri would bring in lawmakers who lost elections to the new government, pointing out that Aoun still insists that his son-in-law Bassil and Elias Skaff be given cabinet portfolios.
Channels of communication remain open between Hariri and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri as well as between Qoreitem and Hart Hreik.