'Independent Sunnis' Meet Berri, Nasrallah Aide, Insist on Govt. Seat
The so-called independent Sunni MPs held talks Tuesday with Speaker Nabih Berri and Hizbullah secretary-general's aide Hussein Khalil, as they maintained their insistence on getting a seat in the new government.
“We thank Hizbullah and (its leader) Sayyed (Hassan) Nasrallah for supporting our demand and we're optimistic that everyone will exert quick efforts to resolve the obstacles and form the government as soon as possible,” Karami said after the meeting.
“We are elected MPs representing our districts and we're not part of anyone's share but there is no problem in visiting the Baabda Palace for consultations,” the MP answered when asked whether they were trying to pressure Aoun to give them a seat from his share.
Khalil for his part described the MPs' demand as “legitimate.”
“They are not encroaching on anyone's share and we will stand by them,” the Hizbullah official added.
Asked whether Hizbullah wants Hariri to step down, Khalil said his party is not considering such a scenario, noting that “the so-called obstacle of representing independent Sunnis is not bigger than the other obstacles.”
MTV had earlier reported that "Khalil, on behalf of Hizbullah, will tell the independent Sunni MPs when he meets them in Haret Hreik that the government won't be formed without them."
Speaking after a meeting with Berri earlier in the day in Ain el-Tineh, the MPs said the Speaker “stressed that that the independent Sunni MPs should be represented in the government.”
“Al-Mustaqbal Movement wants to eliminate others, thinking that no one else represents Sunnis,” a spokesman for the MPs said.
“We emphasized our right to get a ministerial seat for one of the independent Sunnis according to the results of the parliamentary elections and so that a national unity government can be formed,” he added.
The so-called Sunni hurdle is the last obstacle delaying the formation of the government after a standoff over Christian and Druze seats was resolved.
Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri has meanwhile announced that he'd rather step down than give independent Sunni MPs a seat from his own ministerial share.
30 October 2018, 16:16
22
Hassin: "Hizbullah is not interfering in the distribution of portfolios and shares.".. a lying liar who cannot stop lying.. unbecoming of a dude masquerading as some kind of so called man of god.. is this what they call taqiyya?
30 October 2018, 16:51
23
wrong abbass.. Among Druse there's only one bloc.. and outside that there's one Druse dude who belongs to two other blocks.. both created by others.. and the only Druse member in both is himself.. Among Sunnis there's only one bloc.. the other put-on bloc has six members... four of whom belong to three other block.. Hassin's pushing Homar Karameh on Aoun... Aoun's still reluctant because Homar is in Frangieh's block.. knowing Aoun Homar might still get in if Hassin insisted.. mind you.. there are enough Sunnis MPs outside Mustakbal to form a legitimate block.. but have opted not to be part of any block.. had they formed one.. they would be within their right to demand an seat.. if you want an example of how to eliminate other blocs.. look no further than when Hassin appointed Mikati..
30 October 2018, 17:48
14
Oqab Saqr was a shia MP not associated with hezbollah. His life was threatened and was exiled for years. It is just a small indication of how Hezbollah believes in democracy as southern said above.
30 October 2018, 20:09
13
Yeah.. maybe he should nominate Makhzoumi who's an independent Sunni not in Mustakbal.. make hassin blow his turban like in a cartoon..
