Aoun Holds Onto Bassil, Asks for Key Services Portfolios
Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun”s insistence to bring back his daughter”s husband, Jebran Bassil, to the telecommunications ministry is reportedly the latest obstacle to cabinet formation.
Aoun, according to Beirut media, is holding onto demands for six shares and keeping Elias Skaff in the government.
The MP has held a meeting with the political assistants of Speaker Nabih Berri and Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Ali Hassan Khalil and Hussein Khalil, to discuss cabinet shares.
According to al-Liwaa daily, Aoun has criticized his allies, including Hizbullah, for not consulting with him on the 15-10-5 formula reached for cabinet formation. He reportedly said that he will not participate in the government if PM-designate Saad Hariri doesn”t personally discuss with him about his share.
The FPM leader is calling for proportional representation, meaning seven portfolios, that include five Christian ministers, among them at least three Maronites, al-Liwaa said.
Aoun has also lashed out at those calling for abandoning ministers who have lost the parliamentary elections, in reference to Bassil. The FPM leader has stressed that he alone chooses his ministers.
Al-Liwaa said that the two Khalils tried to convince Aoun to limit his demands but the MP insisted on bringing back Bassil to the government and demanded giving Issam Abu Jamra and Mario Aoun, who have both lost the elections, cabinet seats.
Aoun has demanded the telecommunications and public works or health ministries putting himself in a direct confrontation with Berri.
Al-Mustaqbal TV, in its turn, said that MP Suleiman Franjieh tried to convince Aoun to visit the president, but he rejected.
Al-Akhbar newspaper also said that a meeting was held between Bassil and MP Ali Hassan Khalil on Wednesday night to discuss Aoun”s demand to get the health ministry.