Harb Stresses Consensus among March 14 alliance after Independent MPs Meet Geagea

March 14 independent MP Butros Harb stressed that the March 14 alliance has an agreement over the broad headlines of the cabinet formation process, stressing that the formation of a neutral cabinet remains better than vacuum amid the delicate situation Lebanon is passing through.

“There is a comprehensive meeting over the main principles with the Lebanese Forces,” Harb said after talks with head of the LF party Samir Geagea in Meraab on Wednesday night.

Harb, who was at the head of a delegation of March 14 independent MPs, pointed out that the visit is linked to the ongoing consultations with the sovereign political powers in the country that believes in the democratic system.

“It was an occasion to discuss the situation in the country and the cabinet formation process,” the MP said, stressing that “nothing would divide the March 14 alliance.”

He stressed that the March 14 coalition is holding onto the Baabda Declaration and its rejection to the formula of the “Army,people, and resistance.”

The March 8 alliance and mainly Speaker Nabih Berri have called for keeping discussions on the policy statement until after the formation of the cabinet. He has also stuck to the army-people-resistance formula.

But the March 14 camp, which is holding on to a deal with its rivals on several of the government's aspects, has insisted on having the Baabda Declaration as the basis of the policy statement.

Harb stressed that the attendees “positively” tackled the progress of cabinet formation.

“If our principles were accepted then we will deal positively with any suggestion but if they were rejected we will not participate in any lineup,” he noted.

Asked about the substitute of failing to form an all-embracing cabinet, Harb said that the matter is in the hands of President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam.

“We will decide our stance based on their decision,” he added.

The government formation process has witnessed an intensified a political activity in an attempt to end the standstill since Salam was appointed in April.

The cabinet formation process was put on the front burner after Speaker Nabih Berri proposed a revised 8-8-8 government formula and Suleiman said he would form a so-called neutral cabinet if the political rivals don't agree on an all-embracing government within ten days.

Amid the Lebanese Forces' rejection of Hizbullah's participation in the cabinet, the March 14 camp has reportedly accepted the 8-8-8 formula in principle, but it is awaiting answers pertaining to the ministerial policy statement and the rotation of portfolios among political parties.

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