Naharnet

March 8 Sunni MPs Express ‘Adamant Right’ for Govt. Representation

The so-called independent Sunni MPs of March 8 insisted on their demand to be represented in the government, as the formation of the Cabinet stumbles further.

MP Walid Sukkarieh, a deputy of a recently-formed grouping of six pro-Hizbullah MPs, told VDL (93.3) radio station: “We adhere to our position, we are only claiming what’s our right which we won’t abandon.”

“We represent a political approach within the Sunni community and we insist on representing it. Al-Mustaqbal Movement and “father of the Sunnis” are not the only ones who represent the Sunni sect,” added Sukkarieh, in reference to Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri’s remarks.

On Tuesday, Hariri, head of al-Mustaqbal Movemnet, described himself as “the father of Sunnis” in Lebanon, and emphasized that he knows what “serves their interest.”

In a defiant speech the Premier accused Hizbullah of blocking the formation of the new government for a reason that is “bigger” than the so-called Sunni representation obstacle.

After six-month of delay, the new cabinet was on the verge of formation early this week after the Lebanese Forces accepted the portfolios that were assigned to it but a last-minute hurdle over the representation of the so-called independent Sunni MPs has surfaced.

Hizbullah has backed the MPs' demand and refrained from providing Hariri with the names of its own ministers in a bid to press him to accept giving a seat to the aforementioned Sunni grouping.

Source: Naharnet


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