We Will Handle Reaching Understanding with Aoun over Government
Hizbullah will handle efforts to reach an understanding with MP Michel Aoun over his pre-conditions for joining a future government, the Shiite party aide Hajj Hassan Khalil told the president and the premier-designate, according to press reports Saturday.
Meanwhile, a ministerial source in the Change and Reform bloc told As Safir daily that the opposing team was not being "respectful of the rules to form a government."
"For the last time we say they cannot move past us, or form a government without the Free Patriotic Movement," he said, adding "they can discuss with us the distribution of portfolios, their size and number, but they cannot impose who we want to represent the movement in the government."
"We are not prepared to enter bazaars, full stop. If they are capable of forming a government without the FPM, then let them do that if they can," the source said.
On another level, a leading member of Hizbullah slammed accusations the party was obstructing the cabinet shape-up and has reneged on its promises to premier-designate Saad Hariri to mediate with Aoun.
"All this talk about Hizbullah”s pledge to Hariri to mediate with Aoun over his demands for cabinet portfolios is mere lies and baseless claims," he told As Safir.
"If Hizbullah really has an obligation toward Hariri to convince Aoun, then what was the purpose of the meetings between Hariri and his adviser with both (Telecoms Minister Jebran) Bassil and Aoun?" he asked.