Nasrallah Statements Prompted by Keenness to Facilitate Hariri”s Task
Hizbullah sources have said that statements last week by its secretary general on the need to accelerate the government formation were driven by "its concern to support the task of the premier-designate," the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat reported Sunday.
They were referring to Friday”s televised speech by leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on the third anniversary of the end of the summer 2006 Israel war.
The sources said that Hizbullah”s "concern to support PM-designate Saad Hariri”s task in forming a government does not prevent the party from expressing solidarity with the head of the Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun in the face of the campaign he is being subjected to."
Meanwhile, sources in the parliamentary majority told the paper that "statements by Hizbullah leaders, in which they support Aoun”s demands, show a change in the party”s attitude toward the government formation process."
"Instead of helping to resolve Aoun”s proposals – as it had promised Hariri – Hizbullah is making matters more complicated and is pushing Aoun toward showing more inflexibility," they said.
On the same note, an informed source told the pan-Arab daily asharq al-awsat that "despite backing the demands of its Christian ally, the Free Patriotic Movement, Hizbullah is waging a battle that is not its own after it had guaranteed a political formula for the government that eases its concerns."
The source added: "It is a known fact that Hizbullah and Amal will essentially divide amongst them the ministries of foreign affairs and labor, in addition to minor portfolios. This is a matter that has nothing to do with standing in opposition to anyone."
"Hizbullah is careful to preserve the government formula that has been agreed upon and that guarantees the party”s participation in governance and decision-making," the source said. He added that Hizbullah will "not stop its support for Aoun”s demands as long as they do not endanger the formula."
"Hizbullah today feels that Hariri is holding on to the government shape-up and does not seem to be threatening to abandon the task. This is why there is no reason for the party to worry about the formula being in danger," he said.