Khalil Says Lebanon Could Have a New Government Before Christmas
Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil on Tuesday said a new government “is likely be formed before the Christmas vacation.”
Khalil said if the discussions -- aiming at ending more than seven months of deadlock because of wrangling between political parties over quotas and ministerial seats-- continue in the “positive direction” they “could lead to fruition,” media reports quoted the minister as saying.
Khalil affirmed that a positive outcome will have “positive effects on the financial and economic sectors,” in the country.
Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri’s efforts to form a new government have been delayed since his designation in May because of disagreements between political parties over cabinet shares and quotas.
The government was on the verge of formation on October 29 after the Lebanese Forces accepted the portfolios that were assigned to it but a last-minute hurdle over the representation of pro-Hizbullah Sunni MPs surfaced.
Last week, President Michel Aoun kicked off consultations with the concerned parties in a bid to record a breakthrough.
Source: Naharnet
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