Hizbullah Names 3 Party Members for New Govt.

New Government Expected Monday or Tuesday

The line-up of the new government is expected to be announced Monday or Tuesday, a media report published Sunday said.

Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri, who voiced optimistic remarks on Saturday, will return Sunday evening to Beirut from Jordan to “make the final steps regarding the cabinet line-up,” An Nahar newspaper reported.

“Hariri has asked all parties to provide him with the names of their ministers before Monday so that he allocates the portfolios and completes the cabinet line-up before his expected visit to the Baabda Palace in the beginning of the week,” the daily added.

President Michel Aoun is expected to accept the line-up, An Nahar said.

Political wrangling over portfolios, especially among Christian and Druze forces, has delayed the formation of the cabinet for several months now.

A new hurdle has also emerged in recent days regarding the representation of Sunni MPs opposed to Hariri's al-Mustaqbal Movement.

Hizbullah has chosen its three ministers in the new government from within the ranks of the party, defying alleged U.S. pressures in this regard, media report said.

“Hizbullah named three of its cadres to become ministers in the new government,” sources informed on the government formation talks told Asharq al-Awsat daily in remarks published Sunday.

“After reports of U.S. pressures, the party's insistence increased and it named a party member to be assigned the health ministerial portfolio,” the sources said.

“The other ministers who will be part of its ministerial share are also party members,” the sources added, reminding that the party had taken a decision, prior to the parliamentary polls, to name its legislative and ministerial candidates from within the party's ranks.

Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri had announced Saturday that the upcoming health minister will be a Hizbullah member despite any U.S. concerns in this regard.

There are fears that Washington could suspend its health aid to Lebanon should a Hizbullah member become in charge of the ministry.

The party is blacklisted by the U.S. as a “terrorist organization.”