Recent developments on the controversial naturalization decree and comments by a top Iranian general further hindered the mission of Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri to form a new government.
Earlier this week, General Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s Quds Force, claimed that “Hezbollah” grabbed 74 of the 128 seats of the Lebanese Parliament in last month’s elections.
A deputy told Asharq Al-Awsat on Friday that several factors, especially the naturalization decree and Soleimani’s comments, were seen as additional hurdles to Hariri’s cabinet-formation efforts.
The MP, who wished to remain anonymous, said the Iranian general’s comments confused all parties over his blunt interference in Lebanon’s internal affairs.
“Soleimani’s comments could be placed in the framework of imposing orders on Lebanon through Iran’s allies, mainly Hezbollah, by directly meddling in the government lineup,” the deputy said.
He added that Hezbollah, under Iran’s orders, is looking to enforce its will in the cabinet formation process by demanding services and sovereign portfolios.
“Hezbollah is trying to compensate for the US and Gulf sanctions imposed against the party,” he said, adding that it is also trying to cope with the Russian attempts to place Hezbollah and Tehran outside Syria.
For his part, caretaker Education Minister Marwan Hamadeh told Asharq Al-Awsat on Friday, “We refuse the tutoring of (Bashar) Assad’s regime and General Soleimani.”
He accused the Iranian general of trying to intervene in the government lineup by creating a fake parliamentary majority.
“I advise him to take math lessons to learn how to count,” the minister said.
Hamadeh reiterated the Progressive Socialist Party’s position to reject naming Talal Arslan as a minister in the next government.
“We refuse to negotiate on this matter,” he said.
Several officials admitted on Friday that huge difficulties and mounting obstacles were hindering the birth of the new government.
Sources said a new alliance was being formed following the May election. The coalition includes the PSP, the Lebanese Forces and the Kataeb Party, which share a common vision on several controversial issues, mainly the electricity crisis, the naturalization decree and other social and economic problems.
