Zahra: No One Has Right to Determine Share of LF in Cabinet

Lebanese Forces MP Antoine Zahra said on Tuesday no body has the right to determine the share to be allotted to the LF in the new cabinet or stage a veto against its representation.

“Nobody is allowed to identify the Lebanese Forces share in the cabinet and stage a veto against it,” said Zahra in an interview on Tele Liban.

“House Speaker Nabih Berri hasn't established the public works ministry at his home. We made concessions when needed to do, we stepped aside also when needed for that, yet this time we won't abandon our rights and demands,” stressed Zahra.

Zahra was referring to the fight over the public works portfolio between the LF and Speaker Nabih Berri.

“The peak of the iceberg concerning the cabinet formation issue is the distribution of portfolios, not the challenge over obtaining the portfolios,” he added, indicating that all political forces want an approval on a new electoral law.

Wrangling over the distribution of ministerial portfolios among Lebanon's political parties has so far delayed the cabinet line-up.

Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri was designated on November 3 to form a new government, a task that has proven to be thorny in light of fight over the so-called sovereign and key portfolios.