Hariri-Aoun Meeting Fundamental
In an interview with Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Anbaa, Lebanese Forces bloc MP George Adwan described the potential meeting between Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun as “pivotal,” adding, “It is every party’s right to demand being granted certain ministerial portfolios, which it believes to be its right.”
However, he added that the parliamentary election results, which reinstated the March 14 alliance as the parliamentary majority, should be taken into consideration.
He stressed that the majority refuses to have US Ambassador to Lebanon Michele Sison interfere in Lebanon’s domestic affairs, saying, “A mandate remains a mandate, regardless of the country practicing it… The decision [to form a cabinet] should be in the hands of the Lebanese, and it is shameful to have any country mediate between us.”
Adwan also called for some parties to stop issuing fiery statements and to take national interests into consideration.
“How is the opposition flexible if it is setting unrealistic demands?” he asked.
He described forming a national-unity cabinet as “the best solution,” however, if such an approach fails, “then we have to either form a technocrat government, or settle for a technocrat cabinet that includes heads of major parties.”
He also commended Marada Movement leader MP Sleiman Franjieh’s announcement to give up his ministerial portfolio in order to facilitate the cabinet formation, adding that new proposals have been submitted to Aoun, “including granting the FPM the Education and Immigration ministries.”
Adwan called for Hariri to grant the majority and the opposition what he called “their (rightful) shares” and revealed that President Michel Sleiman’s ministerial share has been agreed upon.