Report: Suleiman Upset with Latest Obstacle in Forming Cabinet
President Michel Suleiman has voiced his disappointment with the ongoing deadlock over the formation of a new government, reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Saturday.
Informed sources told the daily that he had expressed to political factions that “he can no longer tolerate political maneuvers.”
The latest obstacle in the formation of the cabinet lies in naming the interior minister.
The March 14 camp had suggested that former Internal Security Forces chief Ashraf Rifi assume the post, but the rival March 8 camp had rejected this suggestion.
In addition, Suleiman revealed that he will not have his final say on the government until he receives a complete line-up that adheres to the guidelines that he had stipulated in the past.
The president has stressed the importance of the rotation of power in the new cabinet.
Suleiman had emphasized on Friday that political powers “should not waste opportunities to build on the positives that have been achieved” regarding the formation of a new government.
“Agreement between the political factions is better than remaining attached to various proposals,” he remarked.
Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam's all-embracing government was expected to be announced on Friday after the major energy ministry obstacle preventing its formation was reportedly resolved through intense contacts between Mustaqbal and the Free Patriotic Movement.
But another obstacle revolving around the interior ministry portfolio emerged on Friday morning, prompting Salam to delay announcing his cabinet's line-up.
15 February 2014, 09:49
55
Mr President go back to the de facto government, leave the thieves out in the cold, this would be the biggest gift to Lebanon and the Lebanese. We are behind you sir.
15 February 2014, 10:19
00
Yeah right, he'd be torn up by both sides of the political spectrum. Don't doubt it for a second.
15 February 2014, 10:25
00
Puhlease. The only thing m8 rightly want is energy and telecom. Rifi is a self-admitted sectarian agitator and has no role is positions of power whose responsibility entails establishing or maintaining security or stability. This whole mess is m14's fault anyway, at least m8 had a group that opposed this violatiob of the people's right while m14 was wholly on board from day 1!!!
15 February 2014, 10:27
00
in the end hezbollah, berri, aoun, jumblatt always get their way. the ones who are willing to sacrifice lebanon for their own gain are not worthy of leading it.
