Naharnet

Report: No Breakthrough in Cabinet Formation Efforts

All endeavors exerted so far to lineup a new Cabinet in Lebanon have failed to break the stalemate hampering the formation, media reporters said on Friday.

Efforts are “paused” for now awaiting for the return of Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri from his one-day visit to Spain, and the return of Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil from Washington, observers told al-Joumhouria daily.

Meanwhile, Center House sources of Hariri stressed that contacts to facilitate the formation process “have not stopped with Hariri’s travel,” assuring that the team is in a quest to solve the obstacles.

On the political bickering between the Lebanese Forces and Free Patriotic Movement over Cabinet shares, the sources said “Hariri insists on lining up a national unity Cabinet, he won’t engage in any political conflict.”

Hariri arrived Thursday in the Spanish capital Madrid on a one-day work visit. He will meet with his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez and will also sponsor a graduation ceremony for the IE Business School in Madrid where he will deliver a speech, his office said in a statement.

The Premier will then head to London on a private visit.

Hariri was tasked with forming a new government on May 24.

His mission is facing several hurdles, especially political wrangling over the Christian and Druze shares.

Source: Naharnet


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