Strong Lebanon Bloc Stresses President Should Keep Justice Portfolio

The Free Patriotic Movement-led Strong Lebanon bloc emphasized Tuesday that President Michel Aoun has the right to keep the justice ministerial portfolio.

“Our main concern after the parliamentary elections has been to ensure correct and proportional representation in the government and we have helped in resolving the obstacles regarding the deputy premier post and the distribution of portfolios,” MP Ibrahim Kanaan announced after the bloc's weekly meeting.

“The justice portfolio is not the problem and it has always been part of the president's share. In the absence of rotation (of portfolios), the president has the right to have a tool for real reform,” Kanaan added, noting that portfolios essential for running the state's internal affairs such as finance and interior will remain with the AMAL Movement and al-Mustaqbal Movement.

Turning to the demands of the Lebanese Forces, the MP said “the new ministerial demands are not justified.”

“We hope the coming days will reflect the positive atmosphere in a national unity government that represents all Lebanese,” Kanaan went on to say.

Wrangling over Christian shares is the main obstacle delaying the formation of the new government after the so-called Druze hurdle was resolved. Hizbullah-backed Sunni MPs opposed to al-Mustaqbal have also demanded that they be allocated a seat in the government but Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri has played down the issue and noted that it does not represent an obstacle.