Top Leaders Mull Expanding Authorities of Resigned Government
The country's top officials are discussing ways to expand the authorities of the resigned government to confront the political, security and economic challenges amid the failure to form a new cabinet, a ministerial source said Thursday.
The source told al-Akhbar newspaper that President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri, Caretaker Premier Najib Miqati and several other officials are mulling to expand the powers of the caretaker cabinet to allow it to take a series of measures amid deteriorating security and economic conditions.
But al-Akhbar quoted the source as saying that Suleiman did not show enthusiasm for the issue, calling for more time to take the appropriate decision.
The president has called for the formation of all-embracing government despite demands by the March 14 coalition and mainly al-Mustaqbal movement to keep Hizbullah away from the line-up over its fighting in Syria's civil war alongside President Bashar Assad's troops.
Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat, who is a centrist, has stuck to his stance on not giving a vote of confidence to a government that excludes Hizbullah.
Suleiman and Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam have advocated a 24-member cabinet in which the Hizbullah-led March 8 alliance, March 14 and the centrists would get 8 ministers each.
But Hizbullah has rejected such a proposal.
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