Jumblat Will Join Voice of Majority on Crucial Issues, Hariri Holds On to 15-10-5
In their first meeting since Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat announced his was terminating his alliance with the March 14 forces, the Druze leader assured PM-designate Saad Hariri that his men in Cabinet would be part of the majority for votes on crucial issues as the Mustaqbal Movement chief said he would not abandon an agreement reached on a government makeup.
Local media on Wednesday said Jumblat guaranteed that his Democratic Gathering bloc ministers in the new government will join the voice of the majority on issues that need a one-third-plus-one of the vote.
The meeting, the first between the two men after Jumblat”s "explosive" statement on Aug. 2, took place around 7 pm Tuesday at Hariri”s mansion in downtown Beirut, known as the Center House.
Jumblat had announced that his alliance with March 14 forces had been "out of necessity and must not continue."
Following his 75-minute meeting with Hariri Tuesday night, the Druze leader stressed his "full support" for a Cabinet lineup based on the 15-10-5 makeup that grants the majority 15 ministers, the Opposition 10 and President Michel Suleiman five seats, which guarantees him the tipping vote while both March 14 and March 8 would be denied the absolute majority or veto power.
Beirut dailies on Wednesday said Hariri was committed to the 15-10-5 Cabinet formula and has rejected suggestions to amend this agreement.
"This Cabinet is not only a government of Lebanese consensus but also of Arab agreement that supports and safeguards the Lebanese accord more than anytime since the Taef accord," Jumblat told reporters.
"All parties stress their support for Premier-designate Hariri to form the government," he said.
Jumblat said he told Hariri that he respected the voters” will.
Hariri, in turn, described as "excellent" his talks with Jumblat. He wouldn”t say more.
Present at the meeting were Hariri”s advisor Nader Hariri as well as Druze MPs Ghazi Aridi, Marwan Hamadeh and Wael Abou Faour.