Nasrallah Urges 'Partnership Govt.' Comprising Everyone, including FPM
Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Friday called for the formation of what he called a “national partnership government” comprising all parties, including the Free Patriotic Movement, as he noted that the formation process will not be “easy.”
He also said that such a government should be led by Saad Hariri or a figure enjoying his support.
“The consultations are supposed to take place Monday and we hope a PM-designate will be named,” Nasrallah said in a televised address.
“So far, no agreement has been reached on any candidate… We hope that the figure who gets the necessary votes will be designated on Monday,” he added.
“After the designation of a premier, we will talk about the line-up and we would negotiate and cooperate with the PM-designate to form the government,” he said.
Nasrallah however pointed out that the formation of a new government will not be an “easy” process.
“We insist on the FPM's representation in the government and no party should be eliminated,” Nasrallah added, a day after FPM chief Jebran Bassil announced that his movement will not take part in any so-called techno-political government led by Hariri.
“Hariri must ease his preconditions if a national partnership government is to be formed,” Nasrallah said.
Noting that the 1943 National Pact forbids the formation of a “one-sided government,” the Hizbullah leader said “any government needs domestic stability in order to be able to address the economic situation.”
“A one-sided government might face several accusations and road-blocking protests… Any salvation government will have to take unpopular decisions,” Nasrallah said.
Noting that the International Support Group for Lebanon -- which convened in Paris Wednesday – has called for the formation of a “reformist government,” Nasrallah suggested that such a government “does not necessarily stand for a technocrat government.”
“The caretaker government must shoulder its responsibilities regarding the economic situation,” he said.
Hariri has insisted that he will only lead a technocrat government, telling the other parties that he is not opposed to the nomination of another figure for the PM post.
A leading candidate for the post – Samir Khatib – was however told on Dec. 1 by the country’s grand mufti, Sheikh Abdul Latif Daryan, that were was Sunni “consensus” on the nomination of Hariri, which prompted Khatib to withdraw his nomination.
Hariri resigned on October 29, bowing to pressure from unprecedented and cross-sectarian street protests demanding an end to corruption and an overhaul of the entire political system.
The protest movement has repeatedly called for the formation of an independent technocrat cabinet.
Source: Naharnet
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