Cabinet Formation Enters Fifth Week as Opposition Speaks of 4 Ready-made Solutions
One month of his appointment to form a new Cabinet, Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri was struggling to establish a government of national unity amidst the Opposition”s insistence on "veto power" – which remains a major obstacle to the process of Cabinet formation.
Local media said Hariri and President Michel Suleiman will kick off Monday a new round of talks that would focus on the distribution of ministerial portfolios in the next government.
Suleiman justified the delay in Cabinet formation, saying "this is the first time a government was being formed away from pressure and foreign meddling."
"Despite that hindrance, the Lebanese would eventually agree on a national unity government," Suleiman said in a statement issued by his press office.
He stressed Lebanon”s "excellent relations" with Arab countries.
The daily An-Nahar on Monday, citing well-informed sources, said the Opposition has stated that Hariri has "four ready-made solutions" for a Cabinet lineup. It said the sources did not reveal details.
They said the Opposition expects from Hariri to come out with a "brave decision" and pick one of these solutions that would bring the new Cabinet to light "without having to wait for any regional action."
As-Safir newspaper, however, also citing well-informed sources, said a breakthrough has been achieved in the Cabinet lineup.
"A potential break in the impasse has been reached over the past few days and we are at the threshold of a serious breakthrough," one source told As-Safir.