Aoun: Threatening to Form Neutral Government Makes it Unconstitutional
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun rejected on Tuesday President Michel Suleiman's suggestion to form a neutral government, saying that nonpartisan ministers “have no opinions.”
He said after the Change and Reform bloc's weekly meeting: “Threats to form a neutral cabinet make it unconstitutional.”
“Nonpartisan officials can act as advisers, but not as men of politics,” he stressed.
“I did not understand the several messages that were made during Suleiman's recent speech, especially his remarks that some countries are hindering the formation of a government,” he added.
“Why doesn't he name who is obstructing the process?” asked the MP.
“What standards are he and the prime minister-designate adopting in forming a cabinet?” wondered Aoun.
“Are they being whimsical in their approach or are they following certain rules?” he continued.
Moreover, he remarked that the March 8 camp is represented by 58 lawmakers at parliament, which grants it the greatest power in deciding the form of the new government.
Commenting on March 14 camp demands to keep Hizbullah out of a new cabinet, Aoun said: “The attempts in the 1970s to isolate the Phalange Party led to a civil war.”
The March 14 camp has been demanding the formation of a nonpartisan government, while the Lebanese Forces has urged that Hizbullah not be represented in the new cabinet.
Suleiman on Monday wondered: “Should we fail to form an all-embracing political cabinet, don't people have the right to contribute to the formation of a neutral government? In the absence of consensus on an inclusive cabinet, do we have to stay without a cabinet?”
“Don't the nonpartisan Lebanese have the right to contribute to the rise of the country and would these people undermine national unity?” the president added.
Since his appointment in April, Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam has failed to form a new government due to the conditions and counter-conditions set by the March 8 and 14 camps.
Source: Naharnet
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