Hariri-Jumblat Meeting Brings New Tone to Government as Opposition Awaits Offers
Mustaqbal Movement leader Saad Hariri will kick off Tuesday a new round of talks on Cabinet formation amid assurances that he would not back down on a national unity government or quit his role as PM-designate.
Outcome of talks, however, would be related to the results of the imminent meeting between Hariri and Jumblat in the wake of the Druze leader”s latest stance in which he announced he was eliminating his alliance with the majority March 14 forces.
March 14 sources told the daily An-Nahar that Hariri has returned with a "set of ideas" which he plans to discuss with those he is would be meeting.
The sources pointed that the previous government deal reached before Aug. 2 was still valid under Arab and global guarantees "based on everybody”s fear of the developments in the region which necessitate keeping the previous Cabinet lineup that had been agreed upon."
Pan-Arab Asharq al-Awsat, citing March 14 sources, said the 15-10-5 makeup "was still applicable," noting that Jumblat”s three ministerial posts would be part of the majority share and would "act in Cabinet on grounds they are with March 14, with some differentiation in picky issues."
The sources said the obstacle in appointing Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun”s son-in-law Jebran Bassil has come close to a settlement.
They said Bassil would get to keep his post as telecommunications minister provided that the FPM would not be given a so-called sovereign, or key, ministerial seat such as the interior portfolio, a previous Aoun demand.
On the Opposition side, a meeting, which lasted well into the night, was held between Bassil as well as Hizbullah and AMAL officials Hajj Hussein Khalil and MP Ali Hasan Khlail in Rabiyeh.
As-Safir daily quoted FPM sources as saying the group was awaiting Hariri”s offer, adding that the "ball was now in his court."