Berri Calls for Formation of Cabinet Based on 6-9-9 Formula, Rejects Other Lineups

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Speaker Nabih Berri rejected on Monday the formation of a cabinet based on any formula other than 6-9-9, describing it as a national unity government.

“Any other cabinet lineup will not be useful,” Berri said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.

He considered that any cabinet that “might be formed without consensus and agreement among political foes will turn into a burden on the country.”

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat had proposed the formation of a new cabinet in which the March 8 and 14 alliances would get nine ministers each and six ministers would be given to the centrists – President Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam and Jumblat.

This formula, which Hizbullah agreed on, prevents a certain party from controlling the government by giving veto power to Hizbullah and its team and another veto power to March 14, he said.

Sources close to Salam told As Safir that contacts are ongoing to find a suitable formula to end the stalemate.

The sources pointed out that “it's time to form a capable government as the Presidential elections are near and a decision must be taken to save the country.”

Salam was appointed in April but has so far been unable to put together a government over the conditions and counter conditions set by the rivals parties as fears mount that the differences between the March 8 and 14 camps would lead to a vacuum the presidential post.

Suleiman's six-year tenure ends in May 2014, but the constitutional period to elect a new head of state begins on March 25, two months prior to the expiration of the president's mandate.

Comments 9
Thumb ex-fpm 23 December 2013, 08:11

He considered that any cabinet that “might be formed without consensus and agreement among political foes will turn into a burden on the country.”

Was the current government formed with consensus and agreement among political foes?
Is the current government a burden on the country?
Did you object to the formation and consistency of the current government which is a one sided government and eliminates more than half of the Lebanese people?

Thumb mckinl 23 December 2013, 11:35

ex-fpm said ~ "Was the current government formed with consensus and agreement among political foes?"

The current government was an "elected government". Salam was selected by the parliament to form an "appointed government".

What don't you understand about the difference of the two types of government, "elected" vs "appointed"?

Thumb geha 23 December 2013, 08:16

m8:
go form the cabinet you want after dividing the country.
we do not want to live with you anymore.

Thumb ice-man 23 December 2013, 08:28

But I will miss the dynamic "trio" if we separate/divide the country.....

Thumb general_puppet 23 December 2013, 09:14

“Any other cabinet lineup will not be useful,”… he left out will not be useful to Assad's lackeys and the Iranian militia.

Thumb benzona 23 December 2013, 11:32

"Berri Calls for Formation of Cabinet Based on 6-9-9 Formula, Rejects Other Lineups"

we reject Berry the mafioso skunk! you close parliament a blackmailed 4 million people during 18 straight months. rouh wla! rouh!

Thumb mckinl 23 December 2013, 12:27

Still living in the past eh benzona? Try finding a way towards a peaceful and prosperous future. All groups have deep grievances.

Thumb -phoenix1 23 December 2013, 13:50

Berri, that ugly face that keeps reminding us Lebanese that we are still living in a nightmare. Just one ugly face, but enough to keep us where we've been for years and years, in a Lebanon where problems will only keep growing and solutions all the more evasive.

Missing watan-libnan 23 December 2013, 14:34

Berri's got to go for us lebanese to move on