Obstacles Slow Formation of Cabinet
Prime Minister Fouad Saniora has run into obstacles on the formation of a new cabinet, raising the possibility of a delay due to a dispute over the distribution of key portfolios.
Press reports on Tuesday said the major obstacle facing the government make-up was that the various political groups were competing over cabinet seats.
The daily An Nahar said Saniora held closed-door meetings that began Monday afternoon and lasted well into the night. It said Saniora refused to give any statements after the meetings.
Political sources said former President Amin Gemayel and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea were unlikely to participate in the new cabinet as believed.
They said an example of the dispute is that Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun has demanded the ministries of finance, public works, health, social affairs as well as the agriculture or industry.
An Nahar also reported conflicts within the opposition itself and the majority itself over details of the new cabinet line-up.
The political sources did not rule out the likelihood of a delay in the cabinet make-up until after the arrival of French President Nicolas Sarkozy to Lebanon on Saturday.
They said the interior ministry portfolio would not be given to an officer as earlier thought. While caretaker defense minister Elias Murr was almost certain to keep his post.
Sources had earlier said that retired Brig. Gen. Nabil al-Ghafri and former military police chief, from the southern village of Alma al-Shaab, was nominated for the interior ministry portfolio.