Shock at Aoun”s Stance on Cabinet Given the Relatively Optimistic Mood
Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri has reportedly voiced shock after Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun announced he was holding onto his current ministerial portfolios and his demand for an extra seat.
Meanwhile, interpretations of Aoun”s position, which came following the weekly meeting of his Change and Reform parliamentary bloc on Wednesday, varied between circles close to Hariri that insist on its optimism and the voices of pessimism exhibited by the majority and minority which insist that Cabinet formation was back to square one.
But in any case, Aoun”s position has prompted a reshuffling of political cards, particularly after the optimistic mood that the birth of the new government was soon.
Sources close to Hariri told the daily As-Safir in remarks published Thursday that the premier-designate was shocked at Aoun”s position, particularly since details of a Cabinet lineup were almost completed and Aoun himself said in an interview with a French magazine that an agreement was in the works.
Meanwhile, An-Nahar newspaper quoted a FPM source as saying that Aoun "did not receive an acceptable offer" from Hariri, leaving the ball in the court of al-Mustaqbal Movement leader.
The source said Aoun was ready to meet Hariri "any time once he was a suitable proposal."
He said Aoun was neither offered the justice ministry nor a sovereign portfolio or the public works.
On the other hand, MPs from the "Lebanon First" parliamentary bloc believed the Cabinet crisis was still open to a settlement and that negotiations will carry on.
Opposition sources uncovered that Hariri”s offer to Aoun was "not tempting at all" as it included the ministries of Displaced People, Education, Culture, Labor and Public Works after stripping him of the telecoms portfolio.
The sources told As-Safir that the quota Hariri discussed with Aoun during their first meeting following parliamentary consultations was "better" since it included the ministries of Health and Public Works in addition to Education.
Well-informed sources told al-Liwaa daily that Hariri does not intend to change his schedule that has already been set with President Michel Suleiman between Oct. 23-25.
Sources said Suleiman, who returned home from an official visit to Spain, is likely to contact Aoun to settle the dispute, particularly since all parties appeared to be award of its shares in the government –be it names or portfolios—and that Aoun would be getting four instead of three seats instead in the previous Cabinet, including the Education and Displaced People.
Some observers interpreted Aoun”s anger as a resentment of the ideas proposed to appoint MP Boutros Harb in return for Hariri”s approval to reassign Jebran Bassil in the new Cabinet and talks about granting Harb the Justice ministry.