Cabinet Fate Unclear as Hariri Prepares for New Round of Talks with Suleiman
Two weeks after Saad Hariri was tasked with forming a new cabinet, no major outcomes appeared on the horizon despite continued efforts by the premier-designate to distribute seats among the majority and opposition along with presidential shares.
Al-Mustaqbal sources told As Safir on Saturday that Hariri could visit President Michel Suleiman in the next few hours to inform him about his consultations on cabinet formation in the past week.
The PM-designate held talks with Suleiman last Saturday.
The sources said channels of dialogue are open with Hizbullah, adding that Hariri held several telephone conversations with the political assistants of Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Speaker Nabih Berri in the past 48 hours.
If Hariri was able to overcome the problem of veto power, then "we would be facing a real chance for quick formation," the sources told As Safir.
Al-Liwaa newspaper said Hariri is working calmly on forming a cabinet acceptable by all sides, adding that all issues are subject to dialogue except for demands of veto power and proportional representation.
In a possible positive development, informed sources told al-Anwar newspaper that Hariri is getting ready to present the first cabinet formula at the start of next week after a meeting with Suleiman over the weekend.
They added that Hariri has prepared a preliminary 30-member cabinet formula that is subject to discussion with all parties.
The formula is the following: 4 seats for the president, 16 for the majority and 10 shares for the opposition. Or 5-15-10.
Berri, meanwhile, reiterated that the Lebanese should be optimistic in order to find results. Issues related to cabinet formation haven”t yet reached "the red line or the stage of concern," he told As Safir.