Suleiman Urges Cabinet Formation Prior to UN General Assembly Meeting
President Michel Sleiman urged on Tuesday for a quick formation of a national-unity cabinet in order to kick off a series of constitutional reforms and tackle the social and economic concerns of the Lebanese.
Sleiman called on Lebanese political leaders “to relinquish personal interests and instead favor national ones.” Speaking during an iftar banquet at the Baabda presidential palace, Sleiman called on political leaders to seize the favorable positive circumstances to speed up the formation process given the ongoing Israeli threats.
“Political leaders should reach an agreement on the next cabinet prior to the UN General Assembly’s reunion in September in order to boost the country’s role on the international arena particularly since Lebanon is to become an [impermanent] member of the UN Security Council,” Sleiman said.
The president also called on the Lebanese to refrain from provocative political rhetoric and resort to direct dialogue as to facilitate an accord on the government which benefits the country’s interests and preserved its stability.
Tackling constitutional reforms, Sleiman said that gaps obstructing the work of constitutional institutions including the presidency “should be dealt with based on a spirit of consensus.”
Sleiman stressed the need to implement the Taif Accord and pursue national dialogue sessions “to guarantee coexistence among Lebanese factions.”
The iftar was attended by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri, caretaker Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, representatives of various parliamentary blocs, as well as an array of political, religious, diplomatic, and social figures.
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun and Phalange Party head Amin Gemayel did not attend because they were travelling abroad.
In related news, MP Michel Murr said on Tuesday that the next government would not see the light of day before the month of October.
Speaking following a meeting with US Ambassador Michele Sison at his office in Amaret Chalhoub, Murr told reporters he remains “an independent MP who backs the parliamentary majority.”
“I do not attend the Future Movement bloc meetings but take part in the parliamentary majority MPs reunion,” he said.
Murr attended on Monday a meeting of 67 parliamentary majority MPs at Hariri’s residence in Qoreitem, after which the lawmakers voiced support for the premier-designate’s task to form a cabinet in accordance with constitutional norms.
The Metn MP stressed that he awaited positive circumstances to visit Syria, adding that his decision was not related to the government’s formation or Hariri’s visit to Damascus.
Commenting on the meeting gathering Hariri and Aoun at the Baabda Palace on Monday, Murr said the talks were necessary to revive hope among the Lebanese people. He added that he wished the former general would refrain from tying the government’s formation to a set of conditions.
Following talks on Monday, both Hariri and Aoun stressed that difficulties still faced the formation process, adding that further deliberations were needed to conclude the process.
Meanwhile, the Future Movement reiterated on Tuesday its commitment to the Taif Accord, and voiced support for the United Nations backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), in charge with investigating the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
Following its weekly meeting in Qoreitem headed by Siniora, the Future Movement bloc stressed that the parliamentary majority would continue to reach out to opposition groups in order to form a national-unity cabinet.
“However, this will be done in accordance with the outcome of the June 7 polls, the Constitution, and democratic principles,” the Future Movement statement added.
The bloc urged politicians to refrain from implicating the STL in political bickering, and pledged support to the tribunal, adding that the STL would reach “a just end.”
The Future Movement also called for the swift formation of the government in order to address pressing issues on the economic and social levels.
“Developmental projects and economic growth necessitate political stability,” the statement added.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Future Movement press office denied media reports that Hariri had suggested forming a cabinet of political leaders.
Pro-opposition newspapers As-Safir and Al-Akhbar reported on Tuesday that Hariri had proposed during talks with Aoun which were mediated by Sleiman to abolish ministries of state and reduce the size of the cabinet to include only the leaders of major groups.
The parliamentary majority and opposition groups had agreed on a 15-10-5 cabinet formula which grants the parliamentary majority 15 ministers, the opposition 10 and Sleiman 5 seats, guaranteeing the president the tipping vote.
The agreement was backed by various factions since it guarantees the opposition real partnership in decision making but denies both March 14 and the opposition respectively an absolute majority or veto power.
The reports also claimed that Hariri suggested splitting each of the Energy and Water, the Interior and Municipalities as well as the Education and Higher Education ministries into two separate portfolios in order to make up for the state ministries.
“Such claims are baseless,” the Future Movement said.