Berri's Aide Meets Franjieh as March 8 Delegation Holds 'Positive' Meeting with Salam

Caretaker Health Minister and aide to Speaker Nabih Berri, Ali Hassan Khalil, stressed on Tuesday the strength of the ties between the speaker and Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh, as a March 8 delegation met PM-designate Tammam Salam in Mousaitbeh.

He said after talks with the lawmaker: “We are in agreement with Franjieh over a government that reflects the will of the March 8 camp.”

“This new cabinet would be capable of confronting the challenges of this period of time and will be able to oversee efforts to devise a new parliamentary electoral law,” he stressed.

“The ties between Berri and Franjieh are strengthened during all important developments Lebanon and the region pass through,” he remarked.

The two officials tackled at depth the issue of the electoral law and the formation of a new cabinet.

“We stressed the need to stage the elections on time and maintain consultations to reach an agreement over a new vote law,” Khalil stated.

Later on Tuesday, a delegation from the March 8 camp held talks with Salam over the formation of a new government and efforts to come up with a new electoral law.

Salam is seeking the formation of a cabinet of national interests that will be able to hold the elections. The March 8 camp is seeking the formation of a political cabinet, while the rival March 14 alliance is demanding the establishment of a neutral one.

The delegation comprised ministers Ali Qansou, Ali Hasan Khalil, Jebran Bassil and Marwan Kheireddine; MP Hagop Pakradonian; and Hizbullah leader's political assistant Hussein Khalil.

Future TV said Pakradonian described the meeting as "positive."

Al-Jadeed television also said the atmosphere in Mousaitbeh was positive.

It quoted Marada sources as saying that the movement was represented at the meeting by the Change and Reform bloc.