Hizbullah Continues Mediation with Aoun as Jumblat Denies Portfolio Rotation 'Plot'
Hizbullah failed again to convince its ally Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun to give up his demand for keeping the energy and telecommunications portfolios as part of his share in the new government.
Hizbullah MP Mohammed Raad visited President Michel Suleiman in Baabda Palace on Thursday. The adviser of the party's leader Hussein Khalil also visited Premier-designate Tammam Salam.
Hizbullah official Wafiq Safa also held talks with Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat in Clemenceau.
Jumblat told As Safir daily that he held “positive” talks with Safa.
The discussions during these meetings focused on Aoun's request to be left out of a deal on the rotation of portfolios in the new cabinet or giving his party so-called “sovereign” and services ministries.
But well-informed sources told An Nahar that such conditions were difficult to meet.
The first request contradicts the agreement reached between the rival parties to form a 24-member cabinet based on the rotation of portfolios, they said.
As for the second condition set by Aoun, it is almost impossible to meet because the agreement lies in giving President Michel Suleiman the fourth “sovereign” portfolio.
Jumblat stressed in his remarks to As Safir that “the concept of rotation is very important and … we cannot give it up.”
“We have agreed from the beginning on the the rotation between sects. So there are no plots or hidden deals against anyone or at the expense of anyone.”
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