Ties between "Hezbollah" and the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) - headed by caretaker Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, are in danger with both sides struggling to control the executive power and to seize the decision-making of the next cabinet.
Sources close to Hezbollah and its mouthpiece media assert that the cabinet crisis is not intra-Sunni but merely “bassilian,” accusing the caretaker Foreign Minister of “insisting on receiving the blocking third in the next government at any price.”
Publically, Hezbollah officials prevent speaking about the dispute, and instead say the alliance between them and the FPM is firm.
Member of the Strong Lebanon parliamentary bloc former Justice Minister Chakib Qortbawi said Hezbollah had not adopted anti-Bassil statements, quoting sources close to the party.
“The Party had already denied any statements holding the Foreign Minister responsible of hindering the birth of a new cabinet,” Qortbawi said.
Although media outlets and political figures close to Hezbollah insist on accusing Bassil of launching a campaign to secure 11 out of 30 ministers in the new government lineup, Qortbawi told Asharq Al-Awsat such accusations were untrue.
“There is no Bassilian knot,” he said, adding that President Michel Aoun does not need the blocking third because he is capable to manage the Cabinet when he heads its sessions.
Meanwhile, sources close to Hezbollah assert there are no fundamental differences with the FPM but rather conflicting viewpoints over the cabinet file.
The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Hezbollah is somehow upset about the way Bassil is dealing with the six deputies from the Consultative Party, by trying to include the minister who shall represent those Sunni MPs, in the share of the President.
“There is no dispute with the FPM and President Aoun over strategic issues, and therefore there is comfort that our relations is ongoing despite some differences,” the sources said.
Former MP and minister Mohammed Abdul-Hamid Baydoun told Asharq Al-Awsat on Sunday that Bassil does not dare create a struggle with Hezbollah.
“Taking any negative position from Hezbollah would cost Bassil a high political price,” he said, adding that the caretaker Foreign Minister aims to secure the blocking third to control the decision making of the next cabinet when any dispute occurs between him and Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri.
“Bassil is trying to play the role of the side holding the power of the political game, a situation that bothers Hezbollah,” Baydoun said.
