The wrangling among political parties over the distribution of ministerial portfolios turns out to be over the so-called “blocking third” or veto power, which sources following up closely on the cabinet formation process said is the core of the differences among the conflicting sides, al-Joumhouria daily reported Tuesday.

Even though no one has openly mentioned that the core of the difference lies in the aspiration of some parties to obtain the majority of the cabinet seats which gives them veto power to pass or obstruct future government decisions, but the problem actually lies there, the sources said on condition of anonymity.

In a sign that efforts to line up a new government may not succeed before the end of the year, Speaker Nabih Berri said that it would be an “accomplishment” for Lebanon to form one before the holidays, media reports said Tuesday.

“If the formation of the government before Independence Day would have been a miracle, forming it before the holidays would be an accomplishment,” said Berri.

A man was critically wounded Monday in a shooting in the Bekaa border town of Arsal, a media reports said.

The Kataeb Party on Monday called for “releasing the new government from captivity,” lamenting the delay that the formation process has witnessed.

Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri held consultations Monday with President Michel Aoun at the Baabda Palace after which he pledged to maintain good ties with Speaker Nabih Berri.

Caretaker Minister of Social Affairs Rashid Derbas commented on the delay in forming a new government and said that the hurdles obstructing it “are draining” the initiative of PM-designate Saad Hariri that first started with a comprehensive settlement to elect President Michel Aoun and end the presidential vacuum.

“Hariri made major concessions which fell within a comprehensive settlement that requires the election of General Michel Aoun as president and that expected a new government to be ready within a week after the election,” said Derbas in an interview to Voice of Lebanon Radio (93.3).

Al-Mustaqbal Movement winded-up, on Sunday, its 2nd annual convention held at BIEL in Central Beirut, which resulted in the election of PM-designate Saad Hariri as Head of the Movement, and Ahmad Hariri as its Secretary-General.

The convention, in which 2400 voters and 400 observing members participated, elected a 32-member political bureau, including 7 women.

Speaker Nabih Berri stressed on Monday that a prolonged delay in the government formation process imperils stipulating a new electoral law that helps hold the parliamentary elections on time, al-Joumhouria daily reported Monday.

Berri had voiced warnings in front of his visitors that he has not been informed of any positive developments as for the efforts exerted to facilitate the difficulties hampering the formation, according to the daily.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu is expected to visit Beirut next week carrying a message of congratulations from Turkish President Recep Tayyib Erdogan to newly elected President Michel Aoun, and to highlight the latest developments of concern for both countries following his latest visit to Iran, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday.

The delay in lining up a cabinet as the result of wrangling over specific ministerial portfolios, raises fears about the fate of a new electoral law that is supposed to be agreed among political parties in order to hold the parliamentary elections slated for May, al-Joumhouria daily said on Monday.

Several political parties are adamant to be given certain portfolios in the new government which is hampering the efforts of PM-designate Saad Hariri to form one. The daily questioned the motives behind the unwavering positions and said that it raises fears as for the fate of the electoral law and the parliamentary elections that are supposed to be held in May.