Debate over Government Portfolios Dominates Saniora”s Consultations
Premier-designate Fouad Saniora resumes on Saturday consultations with Parliamentary bloc leaders to form a new cabinet of national unity.
The central debate focuses on the distribution of the portfolios in the new cabinet between the opposition and the majority and especially the five "sovereign" ministries which are the interior, defense, finance, justice and foreign affairs.
Hizbullah”s demand to get a cabinet post by a non-Shiite opposition figure, outlined by head of its parliamentary bloc Mohammed Raad on Friday, appeared aimed at penetrating majority ranks, especially that its rather marginal Sunni and Druze allies are not represented at parliament.
As-Safir newspaper reported Hizbullah and its Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri”s Amal movement are demanding the telecommunications ministry, held in the resigned government by March 14″s Marwan Hamadeh, in addition to the foreign affairs, labor, agriculture and health ministries.
Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat, according to As-Safir, approved granting a portfolio in the new cabinet to his rival Druze leader Talal Arslan provided that one of the Shiite ministries go to MP Bassem Sabaa.
An Nahar newspaper reported that Berri is likely to nominate Ambassador Jihad Mortada or member of his Parliamentary Bloc Ali Bazzi for the Foreign Affairs portfolio.
Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun, who also heads the Change and Reform Bloc which is allied with Hizbullah, asked Saniora to be represented in the cabinet by five Christian ministers.
Aoun, demanded the finance, which is the most important among the so called "sovereign" ministries and has been held by al-Mustaqbal Movement economists for years, public works, social affairs and agriculture or industry ministries, An Nahar reported.
President Michel Suleiman, the newspaper added, would appoint the interior and defense ministers.
MP Michel Murr, who heads a bloc representing the Metn constituency, informed Saniora that his son, Elias, is the bloc”s representative for a cabinet seat, setting the defense or foreign portfolios as suitable seats.
MP Mohammed Safadi, representing the Tripoli Gathering, asked for a cabinet seat, stating that the public works portfolio, which he had held in the pervious government, is the chosen seat in the new cabinet.
Other parliamentary blocs allied within the framework of the March 14 alliance, called for forming a national unity cabinet that would reflect the people”s aspirations in security, stability and prosperous economy.
The majority, in general, said the presidential oath address should be the base for the forthcoming cabinet”s policy statement.