Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam has overcome the majority of the obstacles that have been hindering his government formation efforts by holding intense talks with the Lebanese Forces and other political powers.
Head of the Free Patriotic Movement MP Gebran Bassil is meanwhile expected to hold a press conference on Tuesday to declare whether his party will be part of the government.
Sources following up on Salam’s talks told Asharq Al-Awsat that even though some differences have been resolved, discussions are still ongoing over the representation of political blocs and the names of ministers.
The share of the Shiite duo of Hezbollah and the Amal movement has been the biggest hurdle in the government formation process. Amal – headed by parliament Speaker Nabih Berri – has been insisting on retaining the Finance Ministry.
Negotiations have also been ongoing over the LF and FPM’s representation.
LF sources said: “Nothing has been finalized.”
There is a need for the government to operate smoothly and for no bloc to have the power to obstruct its work, they told Asharq Al-Awsat.
They underlined the importance of this government because it will be tasked with implementing the vows declared by President Joseph Aoun during his inaugural speech, most notably limiting the possession of weapons to the state.
It will be also responsible for implementing Salam’s vow that the state will impose its authority throughout Lebanon, so the representatives of the Shiite duo in the cabinet shouldn’t be allowed any room to obstruct its work, they added.
The government must ensure that the ceasefire with Israel is upheld and that United Nations Security Council resolution 1701 is implemented throughout Lebanon, continued the sources.
It also has the task of carrying out reforms and fighting corruption, they went on to say. “This means the new government must kick off work on the right foot from the very beginning,” they urged.
The sources refused to confirm or deny that the LF has been promised a major ministerial portfolio that reflects its Christian representation in the country.
The LF is not seeking posts in government in order to implement its own agenda and pursue its own interests like others have done, they continued.
The LF is leading a national agenda, they stressed. “Were it not for the LF’s major representation in the country, a Hezbollah-allied president would have been elected two years ago,” they added.
The LF played a major role in preventing a president who is allied with Hezbollah from being elected president even if that resulted in over two years of vacuum in the country’s top post that was filled by Aoun’s election last month.
Meanwhile, the Progressive Socialist Party underscored the need for parties to facilitate Salam’s mission in forming a new government.
The PSP’s Democratic Gathering bloc urged the need to respect the principles Salam outlined in the formation process, including the need for non-partisan figures to be named as ministers.
This will be a new experience for Lebanon, and everyone should throw their support behind it, it added.
It condemned how Salam has been flooded with demands and conditions, which are complicating his mission. The formation process must be facilitated given the challenges awaiting the new government.
