The deal struck between Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri and the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) more than 18 months ago to bring Michel Aoun into the presidency has been shaken over differences on the formation of the next government.
Officials from both Hariri’s al-Mustaqbal Movement and the FPM, which has been founded by Aoun, asserted on Monday that the deal would not collapse.
On Monday, Hariri made an indirect response to reports about disputes between him and FPM leader Jebran Bassil.
“Nothing prevents me from meeting with Jebran Bassil,” Hariri said, adding that he was optimistic that the government formation impasse could be solved in one or two weeks.
“I am optimistic. My contacts with all parties will soon produce a government,” he said.
The PM-designate said he was trying to calm all sides, adding that both al-Mustaqbal and the FPM were keen on preserving their relationship.
“I am committed to forming a national unity government representing all parties. I am responsible for the formation of the government, in consultation with the President and nobody else. All those who think the opposite are wrong.”
However, the optimism expressed by Hariri does not reflect the situation on the ground. The cabinet formation process continues to face several obstacles, including demands on the shares of the Christian and Druze sects.
FPM deputy Salim Aoun told Asharq Al-Awsat that Hariri’s mission is to form the government and the role of Bassil lies in demanding a ministerial share, which he sees suitable for the FPM, similar to any other party.
“We completely reject accusations that our party is responsible for the delay in the cabinet formation,” Aoun said.
On the other hand, Mustaqbal official and former deputy Mustafa Alloush said that the FPM is requesting 11 Christian ministers in the new cabinet in addition to a Druze minister, a demand not only rejected by the PM-designate but by most parties, including the Progressive Socialist Party, the Lebanese Forces, the Kataeb and Speaker Nabih Berri’s Amal Movement.
He said Hariri suggested that the FPM and Aoun get 10 ministers, including a Druze minister who is not from the share of the PSP, while the other Christian ministers would be distributed among the LF (four ministers), the Marada Movement (one minister) and al-Mustaqbal (one minister) in return for giving one Sunni cabinet seat to President Aoun.
But according to Alloush, this proposal has not pleased Bassil, who is now mainly responsible for deciding whether the cabinet’s formation would be delayed further.
