Draft New Government Line-Up Emerges

A tentative and incomplete government line-up emerged Monday evening as a row over the representation of the Lebanese Forces – the main obstacle that was delaying the formation process -- was resolved.

Below is the line-up as reported by TV networks:

- Al-Mustaqbal Movement: PM post (Saad Hariri), Telecom (Mohammed Shqeir), State Minister for Women's Affairs (Violette Safadi), Interior (could go to Hariri himself) and a State Minister (Mustafa Alloush or Jamal al-Jarrah)

- Free Patriotic Movement: Energy (Cesar Abi Khalil's adviser Nada Bustani), Foreign Affairs (Jebran Bassil), Tourism (Avedis Guidanian), Economy, a State Minister and a yet to be allocated portfolio

- President Michel Aoun: Defense (Elias Bou Saab), State Minister for Presidency Affairs (Naji al-Bustani or Pierre Raffoul), State Minister for Combating Corruption (Sunni figure), Justice (Salim Jreissati) and a yet to be allocated portfolio (Ibrahim Kanaan)

- Hizbullah: Health (Jamal al-Taqsh), Sport and Youth (Mahmoud Qmati), State Minister (Mohammed Fneish)

- AMAL Movement: Finance (Ali Hassan Khalil), Agriculture (Hassan Laqqis) and Environment

- Lebanese Forces: Deputy PM and State Minister (Ghassan Hasbani), Culture (May Chidiac), Social Affairs (Richard Kouyoumjian), Labor (Camille Abu Suleiman)

- Progressive Socialist Party: Education (Akram Shehayyeb), Industry (Wael Abu Faour)

- Marada Movement: Public Works (Youssef Fenianos)