Geagea Calls For a 'Neutral' Cabinet

by Naharnet Newsdesk 30 March 2013, 08:52

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea reiterated calls to form a “neutral” cabinet to supervise the upcoming parliamentary elections, and to choose a new premier who is not a candidate for the polls, the As-Safir daily reported on Saturday.

“Holding the parliamentary elections is a prime target even if technical reasons led to some delay. We want a cabinet of elections, and it cannot be but a neutral one that includes technocrat ministers specialized in addressing the economic and living situation,” said Geagea in an interview with the daily.

On choosing a new prime minister, the LF leader said: “We are looking for an impartial prime minister not a candidate for the elections. That’s why consultations are necessary among factions of the March 14 alliance mainly during this phase.”

The March 14 opposition alliance is seeking the formation of a neutral cabinet to oversee the elections while the March 8 majority alliance led by Hizbullah is after a national unity government, two conflicting stances that are likely to worsen the country’s political crisis.

Former PM Najib Miqati resigned last week hours after the country’s president suspended cabinet sessions for failing to pass a decision on the formation of an elections committee to supervise the upcoming parliamentary polls.

March 14 totally rejects the formation of a national unity cabinet along with the postponement of the elections for a long time, which is similar to the extension of the parliament’s term for two years.

The choice of the coalition on the name of the new PM-designate will be known only 24 hours before the date set by President Michel Suleiman for consultations with parliamentary blocs and independent lawmakers on April 5-6, according to reports.

But March 14 sources ruled out bringing back Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati back to power to head a neutral cabinet.

Comments 6

neons 30 March 2013, 11:03

lol

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maroun 30 March 2013, 12:05

there the opposite ..neutral=not affiliated with any side .
national unity = affiliated with all political parties.

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helicopter 30 March 2013, 20:13

I can sense few independents in this forum of commentators. They are the ones that would be for one politician on an issue (in an article) and against him on the next one. Unlike others who would just attack or praise someone because of who he is and not because of what he said in that article about a certain topic.
Yes there are pragmatic leaders out there and they do exist. Otherwise we are enabling the ideologists and empowering them further.

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maroun 30 March 2013, 12:07

the only thing where would you find any person who is neutral in Lebanon.

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jabal10452 30 March 2013, 13:17

FT: theoretically a neutral ord technocrat gvt would be one formed of, say a professor of medicine for the health portfolio or an economist for the finance portfolio. Those people would be known to not actively belonging to any political party. A gvt of national unity on the othe hand would be constituted of representatives of each of the main parties or coalitions in the country. Each formula has its strengths and weaknesses. A technocrat gvt would focus on getting the elections done with minimal risk of being criticized of rigging them in someone's favor. Once the elections are done, a gvt of national unity is simply a must. We need to talk. No one should be left out.

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