Hariri, Jumblat and Geagea Insist on Govt. Demands, Backed by Berri

W460

The new government will not be formed soon and PM-designate Saad Hariri, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid Jumblat have closed ranks in their endeavor to get the shares that they want in the Cabinet, a media report said.

“The three parties enjoy the support of Speaker Nabih Berri, who is sympathizing with their reasonable, rational and normal demands,” MTV quoted high-ranking political sources as saying.

“Saudi Arabia is not interfering to resolve the crisis and Iran is not making any initiative,” the sources added, noting that Tehran is “preoccupied with the Syria file and with the November 4 date for reimposing the U.S. sanctions on it,” the sources added.

“Inside the country, the local parties are confident that there will be no government in the near future,” the sources went on to say.

Turning to Hariri's relation with Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Jebran Bassil, the sources said the PM-designate is “refusing to give Bassil 10 or 11 ministers” in a bid to prevent the new presidential tenure from getting a so-called “one-third veto power” in Cabinet.

“He largely agrees on this with Berri, because the parliamentary sizes do not entitle them to such a number of seats,” the sources added.

As for Bassil's visit to Ain el-Tineh on Tuesday, the sources said the move “reflects the dilemma that the new presidential tenure and the FPM chief are facing,” noting that Bassil decided to “show openness to Berri after he severed his communication channels with Maarab, Clemenceau and the Center House.”

Comments 2
Thumb canadianleb 01 August 2018, 15:59

I mean seriously are they not the three stooges?:-)

Thumb Puppet 02 August 2018, 08:30

I have the utmost respect for Mrs. awireless for its undeniable talents in mathematics, calculus, and accounting.