FPM Tells Hariri LF Can Have Foreign Affairs Portfolio
The Free Patriotic Movement has told Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri that it does not mind allocating the foreign affairs ministerial portfolio to the Lebanese Forces in the new government, media reports said.
The LF for its part has informed Hariri that President Michel Aoun and the FPM are not opposed to it getting a 'sovereign' ministerial portfolio, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Saturday.
The four so-called sovereign ministerial portfolios are foreign affairs, defense, finance and interior.
“Hariri has underscored that the interior and finance portfolios will certainly go to him and to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, which leaves the ball in the FPM's court regarding the defense and foreign affairs portfolios,” al-Akhbar said.
“Hariri received a signal from the FPM that it does not oppose giving the LF the foreign affairs portfolio,” the daily added.
Hariri was tasked with forming a new government on May 24. The main obstacle hindering his mission is political wrangling over Christian and Druze representation.
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