Lebanon government formation experiences setback: Daily newspaper
A Lebanese daily newspaper says a positive political momentum heralding formation of a new unity government in the Arab country has suffered a serious setback and instilled fears that the new obstacles could further delay the line-up.
“The unfortunate development was surprising. It was embodied in the political positions of some (parties) over the distribution of ministerial portfolios,” Arabic-language al-Joumhouria daily wrote on Saturday.
The report came in the wake of strong opposition from President Michel Aoun, the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) led by Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil as well as the Hezbollah resistance movement that a candidate from the Lebanese Forces political party should be in charge of the justice ministry.
However, an unnamed senior official assured that “efforts to form a cabinet did not go in vain despite uncertainty. It will only be delayed for a few more days because the decision is taken and it will be formed before the end of this month.”
Caretaker Information Minister Melhem Riachi of the Lebanese Forces warned on Friday that some parties were seeking to undermine Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri's latest efforts to resolve the political deadlock in Lebanon.
Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said late on Tuesday that the cabinet deadlock was making progress “but is not over.”
“I can say that there is progress, and [it will be formed] soon hopefully,” Berri told Lebanese expatriates at a dinner hosted by the Lebanese Embassy in the Swiss city of Geneva.
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