Hariri Proposes Rotating Portfolios as Rift Emerges Between FPM and Berri
Premier-designate Saad Hariri has suggested the concept of rotating ministries as the Free Patriotic Movement criticized Speaker Nabih Berri for describing some of its demands as unconstitutional.
FPM sources told An Nahar daily that Hariri suggested to Caretaker Telecommunications Minster Jebran Bassil during their meeting on Wednesday to swap portfolios, meaning the opposition would get the education instead of the telecommunications ministry and the labor instead of the energy ministry.
The sources added that FPM leader Gen. Michel Aoun had asked Hariri during their last meeting for a complete study on the "rotation concept." However, they said Hariri”s response to three issues – the number of seats that the FPM would get, the key ministry and the right of each team to name its ministers – was negative.
Aoun has been insisting on getting five portfolios – 4 for Maronites and one for an Armenian –, a key ministry and naming Bassil as a minister despite opposition by majority MPs.
Al-Liwaa daily said the Hariri-Bassil meeting was fruitless after the FPM official insisted on getting three major portfolios and rejected the PM-designate”s rotation offer.
Furthermore, Bassil wasn”t able to get Hariri”s consent on the FPM”s right to name its own ministers.
Although the two sides didn”t agree on a date for another meeting, sources close to Qoreitem told As Safir newspaper that Hariri was awaiting Bassil”s reply. However, a Change and Reform bloc member said: "What we understood is that the ball is still in the premier-designate”s court."
Meanwhile, the FPM”s TV station, OTV, criticized Speaker Nabih Berri for "considering the division of ministries an unconstitutional step in the absence of a cabinet although Berri himself presided over parliament twice in the summer of 2005" when there was no government.
Media reports said earlier in the week that Hariri had suggested division of ministries although the Premier-designate denied making such a proposal to Aoun.