FPM Voices Optimism Regarding Cabinet Formation, Says Party Facilitating Matter

The Free Patriotic Movement expressed on Friday optimism concerning the cabinet formation process, stressing that the party aims at facilitating the matter in an attempt to safeguard the country.

“We are completely positive regarding the cabinet lineup and our hand is reaching out to everyone in order to include everyone in the new government and confront the dangers facing Lebanon,” Caretaker Energy Minister Jebran Bassil said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.

Asked about demands by the March 14 to include the rotation of all portfolios in the new government, Bassil said that the “priority is to form a new cabinet.”

The 8-8-8 government lineup awaits that March 14 approval, while al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc has set a series of questions regarding the cabinet's ministerial statement, the rotation of portfolios and the veto power.

The 8-8-8 formula divides ministers equally between the centrists, March 14 and 8 alliances, in which each get eight ministers with “decisive ministers” for the March 14 and 8 coalitions.

“We need to answer the following question before anything else, do we want to cooperate to save the country or adopt the policy of excluding others,” Bassil wondered.

For his part, FPM leader MP Michel Aoun's Change and Reform bloc's secretary MP Ibrahim Kanaan told al-Joumhouria newspaper that there is a breakthrough concerning the cabinet formation process.

“Negotiations are ongoing,” Kanaan told the newspaper.

He urged al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc to “give its approval regarding the all-embracing government before discussing the details.”

The lawmaker rejected reports saying that the FPM is excluded from cabinet formation discussions, saying: “Our stance is clear, we are trying to facilitate the matter.”

Prime Minister-designate Tammam 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.