Majority MPs Reject Opposition Conditions, Stress Respect for Poll Results on 2nd Day of Consultations
Parliamentary majority MPs on Friday stressed support for PM-designate Saad Hariri”s efforts to form a cabinet and criticized the opposition for "imposing conditions."
"Our duty is to facilitate PM-designate Hariri”s mission. That”s why we decided not to have any stance over the cabinet formula" before Hariri finishes his consultations, MP Mohammed Qabbani said following the Mustaqbal bloc”s meeting with the Premier-designate.
"Our hand is streched to everybody," he stressed on the second day of parliamentary consultations.
MP George Adwan spoke on behalf of the Lebanese Forces bloc, saying "Lebanon is suffering from a real problem that can only be solved through honest dialogue among the Lebanese."
"It is not logical for the (parliamentary) minority to impose its conditions on the majority in the cabinet formation," he told reporters.
He said the issue of Hizbullah”s arms should be tackled on the national dialogue table.
Adwan stressed: "We should preserve the Constitution and respect the June 7 election results in forming the cabinet."
The LF bloc agreed with Hariri to continue consultations during another meeting "in order to reach better understanding."
Meanwhile, following the Phalange bloc”s meeting with Hariri, MP Elie Marouni said the group asked for two cabinet portfolios, the tourism and industry ministries.
He told reporters that the Phalange backed a national partnership cabinet on condition that the opposition does not impose its conditions because "national consensus is about being in agreement over everything and not transforming victory into defeat."
Marouni also said that the Phalange bloc will hold another round of talks with Hariri.
The bloc delivered a memo to Hariri in which it recommended adopting decentralization, and rejecting all arms outside the control of the state and naturalization of Palestinians.
"Cabinet formation should respect the results of the elections," said MP Tony Abou Khater in the name of the Zahle MPs bloc.