Cabinet Looming on the Horizon as Miqati Presents Draft Lineup to Suleiman

Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati reportedly presented his first draft cabinet lineup to President Michel Suleiman on Tuesday, a sign that the new government could be formed soon.

An Nahar daily and a source close to Miqati said in remarks published Wednesday that both officials discussed the draft lineup which is a mix of politicians and technocrats.

They said the lineup includes 26 ministers, including eight for Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun.

Under the draft government formula, Miqati was proposing caretaker Minister Ziad Baroud, a Suleiman loyalist, would maintain the interior ministry portfolio, which was the main remaining hurdle, a senior March 8 source told the English language newspaper The Daily Star.

The telecommunications ministry, currently held by Charbel Nahhas, who is loyal to Aoun, will go to a Miqati loyalist, the source said.

Asked if Suleiman signaled his approval of the proposed cabinet makeup, Miqati’s source told The Daily Star: “The atmosphere between Suleiman and Miqati was positive.”

The premier-designate did not speak to reporters after the 45-minute meeting with Suleiman at Baabda palace. He later met with Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tineh.

Syria appears to have given the green light to the swift formation of the cabinet.

Pan-Arab daily al-Hayat said Wednesday that intense contacts between top March 8 officials came at a time when Miqati’s brother Taha traveled to Damascus to meet with top officials there and inquire about their stances from the lineup.

Miqati met with caretaker Economy and Trade Minister Mohammed Safadi on Wednesday.

Miqati’s press office stressed on the strong ties between the two men saying rumors aimed at making political investments won’t lead to disunity.