Opposition Aims for Either Veto Power or Proportional Representation but Will Wait for Negotiations with Hariri
Opposition forces will wait the outcome of consultations by Premier-designate Saad Hariri on the formation of a future government before deciding on whether or not to participate, press reports said Sunday.
However, the opposition has set down its minimum demands for its participation in a government insisting on either proportional representation or veto power, March 8 sources told the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat in comments published Sunday.
"Participation in the government is only be possible if (the opposition has) veto power, if not more," they said, repeating that March 8 leaders are in complete agreement in this regard.
Hariri had proposed a formula of 10-4-16 to Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah during their talks Thursday night, but did not receive a favorable reaction, the sources added. The two leaders agreed to "revisit the issue after Hariri”s nomination as prime minister. Nasrallah reaffirmed that "veto power was the minimum condition for the opposition participation," the paper reported.
In an interview with An Nahar daily, Hizbullah MP Hassan Fadlallah said "opposition forces were in complete accord" over conditions for their participation in the government.
"Hizbullah and Hariri have already agreed to continue deliberations and contacts. We are waiting for the designate premier to turn (words) into political realities because openness has requirements. This is what the negotiations will show," he added.
Fadlalah reiterated that Hizbullah was "prepared for cooperation with an open mind depending on what the premier designate will propose for an upcoming government."
Another Hizbullah MP, Nawwaf al-Moussawi, told the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat that "opposition forces will take the appropriate position in light of what the premier designate will propose."
He stressed the need for "active and real partnership to allow the formation of a government worthy of being called one of national unity."
"Discussion is ongoing and there are rules that must be respected," he said, advising against "skipping stages."
"It is not matter of shares, it is a matter of implementing the requirements of consensus and constitutional provisions," Moussawi added.
Change and Reform bloc MP Alain Aoun repeated calls for proportional representation but said the opposition will "not pre-empt negations with the premier designate. When we find out what Hariri will propose, then we can adopt a position."
"A government of national unity is the best guarantee for stability. There is no need for the previous alignment to remain unchanged. We can be in agreement with the ministers of al-Mustaqbal movement and disagree with our allies," he said.
"The underlying causes for the previous alignment have been set aside and the controversial files that lead to crises have been pulled out from the circle of debate," Aoun added.