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French Proposal to Give Telecoms to President

It seemed difficult to anticipate when the new government would be announced due to rapid fluctuations in the political climate.
Information obtained by An-Nahar daily said PM-designate Saad Hariri has made significant progress in talks regarding names and distribution of ministerial portfolios, raising hopes that a Cabinet lineup could be completed in as many days.

But although some ultra-optimists talked about three or four days to reach a final Cabinet makeup, government formation process hit snags that publicly emerged on Wednesday – the telecoms ministry which appeared that Change and Reform bloc leader Michel Aoun was not willing to compromise.

Aoun on Wednesday announced that he was holding onto the telecommunications portfolio.

Opposition sources believed Aoun's statement indicates that the obstacle over the telecoms ministry had not been removed, which means that the majority team had also refused to give this key portfolio to the Opposition.

Sources from the majority March 14 coalition, however, believed that Aoun's position appeared to be an attempt to "swap the telecoms portfolio for a quality portfolio."

Al-Liwaa daily quoted Opposition sources as saying that the telecommunications ministry remains the major obstacle.

The sources spoke of a French proposal that suggested giving the telecoms portfolio to one of the ministers who fall within the share of President Michel Suleiman, provided that person is accepted by both Hariri and Aoun.

Suleiman has been allotted five seats in the new government.

Hariri on Wednesday visited Phalange party leader Amin Gemayel in Bekfaya who hosted dinner for him.

Press reports on Thursday said talks between the two men focused on the Phalange share in the new Cabinet.

Beirut, 15 Oct 09, 11:37


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