Cabinet Portfolios from Political Factions” Perspective
The 30-member government of national unity and the first under President Michel Suleiman brought in new ministers and a change of portfolios for some old ones.
Suleiman nominated State minister Yusuf Taqla (Greek Catholic, new), Defence Minister: Elias Murr (Greek Orthodox, unchanged) and Interior Minister: Ziad Baroud (Maronite, new).
The new cabinet saw the representation of MP Michel Aoun”s FPM for the first time through Social Affairs Minister Mario Aoun (Maronite, new), Deputy Prime Minister: Issam Abu Jamra (Greek Orthodox, new), Telecommunications Minister: Gibran Bassil (Maronite, new).
Al-Mustaqbal Parliamentary Block was represented through Premier Fouad Saniora, the first woman to hold the education ministry and sister of assassinated Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, MP Bahia Hariri (Sunni, new), Finance Minister: Mohammed Shatah (Sunni, new) who was Saniora”s advisor, and State Minister: Khaled Qabbani (Sunni) who held education ministry.
MP Walid Jumblat”s Progressive Socialist Party is represented by State Minister Wael Bou Faour (Druze, new), Public Works and Transport Minister: Ghazi Aridi who held the information post.
Lebanese Forces was represented by Justice Minister: Ibrahim Najjar (Greek Orthodox, new), and Environment Minister: Antoine Karam (Maronite, new).
Phalange Party was represented by Tourism Minister: Elie Marouni (Maronite, new), whose brother Nasri Marouni was shot dead in Zahle months ago during a Phalange party event.
Qornet Shehwan Gathering was represented by ex-MP, presidential candidate State Minister Nassib Lahoud (Maronite, new). He replaced social affairs minister MP Nayla Muawad.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri”s Amal movement was represented by Industry Minister: Ghazi Zaayter (Shiite, new), Foreign Minister: Fawzi Salukh (Shiite) who returned to the post he resigned in 2006, and Health Minister: Mohammad Khalifeh (Shiite) who also retains his post.
Hizbullah was represented by Labor Minister: Mohammed Fneish (Shiite) who held the energy portfolio in Saniora”s resignated government.
Tripoli Gathering was represented by its leader Mohammed al-Safadi who holds now Economy and Trade Minister: Mohammed Safadi (Sunni) instead of Public Works and Transport portfolio.
Armenian Tashnaq party was represented by Energy and Water Minister: Alan Taburian (new).
Armenian Hanshaq party was represented by State Minister: Jean Ogassapian who held the Administrative Development portfolio.
Democratic Party was represented by its leader Sports and Youth Minister: Talal Erslan (Druze, new).
Populer Block was represented by its leader Agriculture Minister: Elie Skaff (Greek Catholic, new).
The Syrian Social National Party was represented through its former leader State Minister Ali Qanso (Shiite, new).
Independents are: Information Minister: Tareq Mitri (Greek Orthodox) who was education minister in the resignated government, Culture Minister: Tammam Slam (Sunni, new), Displaced Persons Minister: Raymond Audi (Greek Orthodox, new) who was nominated by March 14 forces.
Administrative Development Minister: Ibrahim Shamseddin (Shiite, new) is also an independent minister nominated by March 14 Forces and who Speaker Berri, reportedly, fiercely opposed his nomination.