Aoun Submits List of Ministerial Candidates to Hariri
Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun provided PM-designate Saad Hariri with the names of his candidates on Monday as the formation of the Cabinet is almost a done deal.
Aoun told reporters following talks with Hariri in Rabiyeh that he named the following ministerial candidates:
Maronites: Jebran Bassil (energy), Fadi Abboud (tourism), Youssef Saadeh (state minister)
Catholic: Charbel Nahas (telecommunications)
Armenian Orthodox: Abraham Dedeyan (industry)
"The final stage ended. Hopefully it (the cabinet) would be formed tonight," Aoun said following the 2-hour meeting with Hariri.
However, media reports said Monday that the cabinet deal still faces a small delay as it awaits final approval from the Lebanese Forces and the Phalange Party on seat distribution – justice and education.
An-Nahar daily said the new government is likely to be announced Tuesday.
Hizbullah had said the Opposition agreed to a proposed Cabinet lineup, paving the way to sign a deal following five months of strenuous negotiations.
Press reports on Monday said a final Cabinet makeup was not yet concluded due to the continued wrangling over the education and justice ministries.
While the Lebanese Forces and MP Boutros Harb fought over "Justice," the Phalange party and Hariri clashed over "Education."
The Lebanese Forces reportedly insists on holding onto the justice ministry, but said it was willing to give up its Maronite seat for Harb.
Harb, however, refuses to take any portfolio other than "Justice," An-Nahar said.
The Phalange party, in turn, is adamant about getting the education ministry, a seat Hariri would not relinquish.
Hariri, whose desire is to keep "Education" for his al-Mustaqbal movement, offered "Labor" to Phalange party leader Amin Gemayel.