Date: Jun 29, 2018 Source: The Daily Star Hariri dismisses rumors of fraying ties with Aoun Ghinwa Obeid| The Daily Star BEIRUT: Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri Thursday dismissed rumors that ties with President Michel Aoun were fraying, and urged for political calm to allow the Cabinet formation process to proceed smoothly. Hariri went to Baabda Palace as part of ongoing consultations aimed at forming a new government, in a move that dispelled fears of rising tensions between the two leaders. The sit-down followed a strong statement issued by the presidential palace earlier this week that appeared to toughen Aoun’s position against the Lebanese Forces’ demand for key ministerial posts in the new Cabinet, including that of the deputy premier position. However, Aoun made it clear that it was his right to pick a deputy prime minister as well as other ministers through whom he monitors the Cabinet’s work. The statement was also understood to be a message to Hariri, who supposedly supported the LF’s request for wide representation in Cabinet. “The constitution is clear regarding the president’s role and my role in the formation process,” Hariri told reporters after the long meeting. “I hope that there will be no mistake on this issue because I have an understanding with the president on all the details.” The prime minister-designate also underscored that his political settlement with Aoun is unbroken, noting that it should be protected for the good of Lebanon’s safety. The political settlement between the two led to Aoun’s election as president in 2016, in exchange for Hariri’s reappointment as a prime minister. Touching on the government formation process, Hariri admitted there were certain hurdles he was still working to overcome. Nevertheless, he struck a positive tone and assured that the new Cabinet will be formed soon, but didn’t set a timeframe. “I assure you that we are going to reach a solution. All political sides are in agreement on the need for a quick government formation, so we are close to resolving the issue and every side to getting their share as they should,” Hariri said. He reiterated that the new Cabinet would be comprised of 30 ministers, after reports suggested that Hariri might decide to form a 24-member Cabinet. Political sources, however, told The Daily Star Hariri did not present Aoun with a Cabinet lineup. “My work is confined to forming a government where everyone is comfortable with their representation, and in order to reach this point, we should put an end to tension and escalation. Then, we can see concessions from all sides,” Hariri added. Sources said Aoun and Hariri agreed on the need for de-escalation and that both will make an effort to facilitate the formation process. Since Hariri was tasked last month to form a government, his mission has faced numerous hurdles, mainly from the Progressive Socialist Party and the LF. PSP leader Walid Joumblatt has insisted his bloc be allocated all three ministerial posts reserved for the Druze sect in a 30-member Cabinet.His demand was apparently aimed at preventing his Druze rival, Talal Arslan, from being named minister. The political sources said that Hariri took the lead to resolve this issue, offering that the PSP gets two Druze ministers and the third go to an independent, which would decrease Arslan’s chances of becoming a minister. As for the LF’s demands, the sources said that it is now out of the question that the deputy prime minister position will be held by the party, so it remains to be seen which ministries the LF will gain control of. Hariri has also been facing demands by Sunni lawmakers, not affiliated to his Future Movement, to be represented in Cabinet. Hariri was reported to have said that he would name all six Sunni ministers, rejecting demands from independent Sunni lawmakers. But after his meeting with Aoun, Hariri downplayed reports of conflict over Sunni representation and indicated that it was not a major issue. Despite the premier’s optimistic attitude in his remarks, PSP MP Wael Abu Faour noted that his party’s relationship with Aoun has been “cold.” Joumblatt and several officials from the Free Patriotic Movement – founded by Aoun – traded barbs earlier this month, reflecting mounting tensions between the parties. The PSP has claimed that it was targeted by the FPM in the May 6 parliamentary elections. “I can say that the relationship with the president is cold. There has been no relationship after we were targeted by people in his circle during the parliamentary elections and government formation,” Abu Faour told reporters after meeting with Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel-Latif Derian Thursday morning. Touching on the government formation saga, Abu Faour said the PSP and Joumblatt support all of Hariri’s efforts in the Cabinet formation process. “The prime minister-designate is doing all he should be doing, but intimidating him by saying that his designation will be withdrawn or setting unconstitutional deadlines [for the government formation] is constitutional heresy,” Abu Faour said regarding reported pressures on Hariri. Separately, Hezbollah’s Loyalty to the Resistance bloc said the current political phase in Lebanon requires cooperation between all sides and constituents. “The understanding between Lebanese on a vision for the government and between all constitutional institutions is a national necessity in order to resolve internal matters and confront external challenges ... in a way that achieves social stability and safeguards national sovereignty,” the bloc said after its weekly meeting. “Based on this, the bloc sees that the government that guarantees the largest participation of factions that resulted from the elections ... is the Cabinet that is mostly capable of confronting the [challenges] of the current phase.” – Additional reporting by Hasan Lakkis