ANSD : Berri concerned about lengthy govt formation

SUN 24 - 11 - 2024

Date: Aug 29, 2018
Source: The Daily Star

Berri concerned about lengthy govt formation

Hariri hits back over govt. formation delay criticism

BEIRUT: Speaker Nabih Berri expressed his concern Tuesday evening that the government formation might drag on longer if no positive development takes place soon.

“I never said that I was optimistic, but rather that I was still waiting to see the results of the new mobilization that the designated premier began with,” visitors at Berri’s Ain al-Tineh residence quoted the speaker as saying to The Daily Star. “I still hope that things will move forward, and I fear that if no positive development results from this mobilization, [the government formation] will take longer,” Berri said.

Berri’s comments come after MP Abdel-Rahim Mrad told reporters that the speaker was optimistic about the government formation process and the possibility that a Cabinet would soon be formed. Mrad had met with Berri Tuesday along with a delegation of Sunni MPs not affiliated with the Future Movement.

Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri was tasked with forming a new Cabinet in May, but his attempts have failed as he has faced competing demands from various political sides over the shares of ministerial seats they will receive.

On Wednesday, local daily Al-Akhbar reported that Berri had also reiterated that Parliament can convene even if the country's government is resigned.

The newspaper said as well that Berri had told his visitors that one of the coordinators of the CEDRE conference held in Paris in April to support Lebanon's economy and investment had called him and asked to have "an urgent meeting" with him.

Bassil: President's ministerial share must not be infringed

BEIRUT: Free Patriotic Movement leader Gebran Bassil Tuesday said the president naming a portion of Cabinet ministers was a right not to be infringed upon, in a televised statement following the FPM’s Strong Lebanon bloc’s weekly meeting.

“We can’t play with the ingredients we have all paid the price for because someone is looking for a certain political gain,” Bassil said, in reference to disagreement on the details of the president’s ministerial share in the next Cabinet by some parties, primarily the Lebanese Forces. He said it was false to base the president’s share on the size of the political bloc supporting him, namely the FPM. “The idea of the strong president is that his strength is added to the bloc that supports him,” Bassil said.

Turning to online free speech issues, Bassil said he supported the judiciary acting against even members of the Free Patriotic Movement when their speech on social media infringes on ethical or religious issues.

Bassil himself has been involved in many lawsuits against activists or journalists over comments critical of him or his party.

Hariri hits back over govt. formation delay criticism

BEIRUT: Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri Tuesday rejected rumors of his removal from his position if a government is not formed soon, saying nothing dictates the period of government formation except the Constitution.

In comments made to reporters after a Future bloc meeting at his Downtown Beirut residence, Hariri said the delay in government formation was solely “because some parties want certain shares [of representation in Cabinet],” and that he would name those obstructing the process “after a certain period.”

Hariri added that he called President Michel Aoun yesterday and that the two will meet after Hariri holds more discussions over ministerial allocations.

“I am meeting with political parties and within these two or three days I will meet with Aoun,” he said.

Hariri hit back at Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah's claims made Sunday that government formation was delayed due to politicians expecting imminent revelations from the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which is holding trials for four Hezbollah-linked men accused in the assassination of his father, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, in Beirut in 2005. The first hearings were held in 2014 and a verdict is anticipated in mid- to late 2019, but the prosecution and defense will be giving their closing statements in mid-September.

“For those betting on the STL, I tell them: Don’t play with fire,” Nasrallah said, adding that the STL did not have “any legitimate value and did not mean anything for Hezbollah, whether it issued condemnation or acquittal."

Hariri responded that the delay was solely due to certain sides demanding more than their share. "Hezbollah's position towards STL is clear and it hasn't changed ... You know what my position is. Don't read too much into this [threat]," Hariri said.

Hariri also accused the Syrian government of "blackmailing Lebanon" by keeping the Nassib border crossing closed. Earlier Tuesday, caretaker Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk similarly criticized the Syrian government in apparent response to reports that the crossing will not reopen to Lebanese goods unless ties between Beirut and Damascus are restored. Political sides in Lebanon have been sharply divided over restoring ties with Syria.

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