Appointments Made, Budget on Road to Approval
Cabinet has finally approved the long-awaited appointment of the remaining members of the Constitutional Council. However, approval of the delayed 2009 state budget is yet to be achieved.
The daily An Nahar on Wednesday said the Green Light given for the completion of the Council members was based on a formula such as six seats were given to the parliamentary majority, three for the opposition and one for the president.
The new Constitutional Council members are: Issam Suleiman, Salah Mukhaiber, Assaad Diab, Toufic Soubra and Suheil Abdel Samad.
An Nahar quoted sources close to Nabih Berri as saying that the speaker was part of the contacts held that led to Tuesday”s cabinet session that resulted in the appointments of the five remaining Constitutional Council members.
It also quoted sources in the Lebanese Forces as expressing strong reservation following failure to appoint Judge Muhib Maamari to the Council.
It said Prime Minister Fouad Saniora suggested appointing Maamari instead of Salah Mukhaiber. Defense Minister Elias Murr, however, insisted on Mukhaiber.
The Council will resume work after all ten members are sworn in before President Michel Suleiman.
Lebanon hopes to approve the state budget at the next cabinet meeting scheduled for June 2.