Geagea Demands A Technocrat Cabinet, Says Any Government Formed by Suleiman, Salam Is Legitimate

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea stressed on Friday that any cabinet formed by the president and the premier-designate is “legitimate and not a de facto government,” calling for the formation of a technocrat council of ministers.

"Many are using the expression de facto to describe a cabinet formed by President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam,” Geagea said at a press conference he held in Maarab.

He added: “But such a cabinet would be legitimate, legal and constitutional and we reject calling it a de facto cabinet. It is in the constitutional rights of Suleiman and Salam to form a cabinet.”

Geagea remarked that political factions opposed to such a cabinet can protest its formation through refraining from giving it the vote of confidence at the parliament.

"But any other form of protesting is rejected,” he stressed.

The LF leader also slammed as "constitutional heresy" talks about representing parliamentary blocs at the cabinet.

He explained: “The cabinet is not a council where political factions are represented but it is an executive power.”

“We must agree on a cabinet that can at least solve basic issues in the country. But trying to discuss the problems we face at the parliament in the cabinet will not lead anywhere,” he added.

Geagea called for forming a technocrat cabinet that does not include any representatives of either the March 8 or the March 14 coalitions, urging Suleiman and Salam to “use their constitutional powers and form the new government.”

“We want a cabinet formed of known, trustworthy and qualified figures,” he remarked.

Geagea also praised Salam's proposal on rotation of power inside the cabinet, saying that it would prevent the “monopoly of some factions over certain ministries.”

On national dialogue, the Christian leader reiterated that previous talks “did not give any positive results.”

“The requirements necessary for dialogue are not available at the moment.”

Timeline
  • 27 September 2013, 17:01

    Geagea: I hope Suleiman and Salam would exercise their constitutional powers and form a cabinet and those would do not approve of it, let them refrain from giving the government the vote of confidence.

  • 27 September 2013, 17:00

    Geagea: We reiterate our proposal which is forming a cabinet that does not include March 14 or March 8 representatives. We meant a cabinet formed of known trustworthy and qualified figures.

  • 27 September 2013, 16:58

    Geagea: What kind of tourism and economic trade would we have if the March 8 forces were represented in the cabinet amid the measures adopted by GCC nations against Hizbullah and its institutions?

  • 27 September 2013, 16:57

    Geagea: March 8 gets involved in confrontations that do not secure the stability of the country or of the economy.

  • 27 September 2013, 16:56

    Geagea: Lebanese citizens want security, stability, good economic and social conditions. Is the March 8 team meeting these aspirations? Does its involvement in Syria secure these demands?

  • 27 September 2013, 16:55

    Geagea: Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has once said that he's proud to be a soldier serving the Faqih rule. The March 8 team only cares about regional confrontations.

  • 27 September 2013, 16:53

    Geagea: The requirements necessary for dialogue are not available at the moment. They say everyone is ready for dialogue but the Lebanese Forces. But we say that the March 8 coalition do not want to build the state. They have military projects but they do not aspire to build the state.

  • 27 September 2013, 16:49

    Geagea: We welcome the rotation of power that was suggested by Salam to prevent the monopoly of some factions over certain ministries.

  • 27 September 2013, 16:48

    Geagea: Any 65 votes at the parliament can form a cabinet and give it the vote of confidence. Discussing representation at the cabinet is only meant to obstruct its formation.

  • 27 September 2013, 16:47

    Geagea: The opposing political group wants a cabinet that serves its own interests.

  • 27 September 2013, 16:46

    Geagea: National dialogue did not give any positive results and it is a waste of time. And it is a constitutional heresy to try to reflect the representation of parliamentary blocs at the cabinet.

  • 27 September 2013, 16:45

    Geagea: We must agree on a cabinet that can at least solve basic issues in the country. But trying to discuss the problems we face at the parliament in the cabinet will not lead anywhere.

  • 27 September 2013, 16:44

    Geagea: The cabinet is not a council where political factions are represented but it is an executive power. We are opposed to forming a national unity cabinet that is similar in composition to the Lebanese Parliament.

  • 27 September 2013, 16:44

    Geagea asked: What is the parliament doing? How has it been serving citizens?

  • 27 September 2013, 16:42

    Geagea: Our political foes can refrain from giving the vote of confidence to a cabinet formed by the president but any other form of protest is not acceptable.

  • 27 September 2013, 16:41

    Geagea: Our political foes do not want a cabinet and those talking about protests if the government was formed, we tell them that May 7 cannot be repeated.

  • 27 September 2013, 16:40

    Geagea: It is in the constitutional rights of President Michel Suleiman and PM-designate Salam to form a cabinet.

  • 27 September 2013, 16:39

    Geagea: Any cabinet formed by the elected president and the chosen premier-designate is legal, constitutional and legitimate and we criticize calling it a de facto cabinet.

  • 27 September 2013, 16:37

    Geagea: Any cabinet formed by the president and the premier-designate is not a de facto council of ministers, like many are saying, but it would be a legal cabinet.

Comments 16
Thumb lebanon_first 27 September 2013, 16:52

true

Thumb ado.australia 27 September 2013, 17:53

"We are opposed to forming a national unity cabinet that is similar in composition to the Lebanese Parliament". Isn't that the definition of a national unity cabinet? Therefore you should say you are against national unity!

The situation calls for unity. You are calling for a non political, non unity government that will not have any political backing. What would that achieve? Nothing.

If a non political cabinet is what you and the Mustaqbul Party want, then why not call for a military cabinet? Support the LAF and allow them to enforce control over the entire nation. From dahie to tripoli, sidon to baalbek! i will support you in this request.

Missing peace 27 September 2013, 18:15

and what did the last "national unity gvt" acheive other than being blocked by those who disagreed? LOL

Missing jayjay 27 September 2013, 18:24

The situation calls for unity. You are calling for a non political, non unity government that will not have any political backing. What would that achieve?
It would solve everyday problems in the country.. Things like economy, infrastructure, education, water, social security, medical care, and all the things that any gov. should provide.. In ozy, u dont think about these basic necessities.
You dont need a military cabinet to be able to secure a country's border.. In lebanon, you need hizbullah's approval.

Thumb ado.australia 27 September 2013, 18:27

peace. without unity now during this dangerously divisive and violent moment... what do we have? A cabinet that no lebanese political party is represented and non have political responsibility?

We need a national unity gov or a military coup that relieves the Lebanese from our Politicians. A new constitution that gives the president more power to end this political deadlock! we could end up without a cabinet, or elected parliament forever and no one can do anything about it!

Missing peace 27 September 2013, 19:06

ado : for national unity in lebanon you need grown up politicians which lebanon has not...they will argue on the term, cry that one is not represented like it should, disagree on the numbers and so on

so geagea here is right: you need experts with no political affiliations and that ALL parties agree that the STATE of lebanon is above all their interests, any decision taken is sovereign but you know which parties cannot stand that!

OR let a one sided gvt governed till the end of its term and not block it or overthrow it or threaten to use arms against it but overthrow it during the next elections like it is the case in ALL civilised democracies.. a gvt can govern even if it has 20% of support from the population because it has been elected !

but as i said, there is no politician that is ready to sacrifice its own interests for the interests of the people and the country.... that is why a technocrat gvt can be the solution...

but....

Thumb ado.australia 27 September 2013, 19:15

Texas and peace. You miss my point. Let them form a government! I don't give a crap if it's unity or not. Just form it. It will pass the parliament approval or it will not!

From what we have heard, the psp and kataeb will not approve a one sided government! There for it will not be approved! So what them? Do we wait another 6 months without a cabinet? How long do we wait before we relize that there will not be a cabinet? Who can break this deadlock? No one!!

This is the point. I'm not against anything. I just want a frigen government! There is no parliament. Parliament has expired and they haven't called new elections because the political powers have agreed to bypass elections! Is this democracy and constitutional? If it is than it is wrong and we need a new constitution with stronger Presidantial powers and the only way I see it happening is with a military coup!

Thumb LEBhasNOhope 27 September 2013, 17:04

The man has the cojones to tell it like it is!

Missing people-power 27 September 2013, 17:56

Finally!!!!! Someone speaking the truth without being vague and without laying on the BS.

Default-user-icon georges (Guest) 27 September 2013, 18:22

Well you need to get rid of Salam first if you don't want March 8 or 14.(why you always sound as if you live on another planet!)

Missing jayjay 27 September 2013, 19:03

Southern: funny coming from a militia supporter which is fighting outside its country following orders from regional powers... you love your "Lebanese fellows" give up the fight that is causing Lebanon destruction. You love your "Lebanese fellows" at least put up a proposal to fight in syria in front of the LEBANESE parliament for EVERYONE's approval...

Missing peace 27 September 2013, 19:08

LF are fighting in syria? waw!

Default-user-icon Muzay Alikanto (Guest) 28 September 2013, 00:30

This snake oil salesman (his only customers are exclusively Drs. Arteena Satleh! I wonder why!) is better off focusing on poetry as in the famous verse he... well... umm... duh... never wrote, let alone never read as poetry is supposed to be read (but he is uneducated, and this makes all the difference):
الخَيْل واللّيْلُ والبَيْداءُ تَعْرفُني ... والسّيْفُ والرّمْحُ والقرْطَاسُ والقَلَمُ

Missing VINCENT 28 September 2013, 00:34

Southern: But not only H.A. have taken trips to Iran, they are the proxy Iranian organization. H.A. is Iran and has betrayed their countryman before Geagea.

Thumb general_puppet 28 September 2013, 08:08

Geagea is correct on all points... give a technical government a shot, nothing ells has worked. The alternative is to keep going in the disastrous path they are in. Here the LF is describing constitutional procedures and is willing to stand aside, unlike the patriotic M8 political mob.

Thumb general_puppet 28 September 2013, 08:14

The Assad-Iranian cheerleaders are exhausted from there 2 weeks of Glorious victories in the Thumb wars... I am sure logging on and off takes a lot out of them ;-)