Obstacles hindering the formation of Lebanon’s government remained unresolved Wednesday despite intense negotiations, including a meeting between President Michel Aoun and head of the Progressive Socialist Party Walid Jumblat, who repeated his demand for granting his party the entire Druze representation in the next cabinet.
After holding talks with Aoun at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, Jumblat said the meeting did not focus on cabinet formation efforts, a sign that the Durze obstacle remained unsolved.
“The political and popular representation gave us the right to demand the full Druze representation in the government,” Jumblat said.
PSP ministerial sources reiterated their leader’s position and told Asharq Al-Awsat: “Nothing new to announce.”
Jumblat said the president was keen on "the unity of the mountain and that of Lebanon as a whole."
Asked whether he had withdrawn his earlier comments describing the current presidential term as a “failure,” Jumblat responded: “I will not back down from my stance even if it involves a part of the tenure.”
Member of the Democratic Gathering parliamentary bloc MP Hadi Abu Al-Hossen said on Wednesday in a radio interview that there are efforts to resolve the current dispute on the government formation.
Al-Hossen criticized the fact that party leaders are holding talks with FPM leader Jebran Bassil to discuss the government lineup. “Who is responsible for forming the next government? PM-designate (Saad Hariri) or the head of the FPM?,” he asked.
Concerning the Christian representation, member of the Strong Lebanon parliamentary gathering MP Edy Maalouf hoped ongoing meetings between political parties would help remove the existing obstacles.
The representation of Christian ministers is problematic due to a dispute between the FPM and the Lebanese Forces.
Maalouf said a meeting between Bassil and LF leader Samir Geagea is possible, however, he asserted the two sides should resolve some pending issues first.
