The cabinet formation deadlock in Lebanon entered on Monday is highlighting lingering political disputes among rival Christian political forces, which have been targeted by the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) and its leader, caretaker Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil.
Various rival Christian parties, such as the Kataeb, Lebanese Forces (LF) and Marada, headed by Suleiman Franjieh, are being made to fight FPM attempts to exclude them from power.
Efforts have therefore been underway between them to set aside their disputes and unite to fend off the FPM’s campaign against them.
As a result, the rivals have found themselves agreeing on several political issues. Meetings kicked off in this regard between leaders of the Kataeb and Marada and also between the latter and the LF.
But despite their entente, their efforts to form a “political front” to confront the FPM’s autocracy, remain insufficient.
The FPM is currently adopting a policy of exclusion where it alone wants to monopolize power, leading Kataeb member and former MP Elie Marouni told Asharq Al-Awsat.
He said such policy would lead to a one-party rule and is an attempt to remove other Christian forces from the political scene.
Kataeb and Marada leaders and officials have made several efforts to improve their relationship.
Kataeb MP Nadim Gemayel recently visited the northern city of Ehden and placed a wreath on the tomb of late minister and deputy Tony Franjieh, the father of Suleiman Franjieh.
“The situation requires strong solidarity in the Christian camp,” Marouni said, adding that Christians in general are frustrated.
“If you do not belong to the Movement of Jebran Bassil, then you cannot acquire any public position,” he said.
Bassil continues to oppose granting any substantial share to other Christian parties in the next cabinet, particularly the LF, which has found itself edging closer to the Marada, its historic political opponent.
LF media officer Charles Jabbour told Asharq Al-Awsat, however, that he rules out the establishment of a political framework capable of confronting Bassil.
The FPM leader is not only at odds with Christian parties, but the majority of Muslim powers, including Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri and Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat, he added.
If he continues with this approach, then he will end up leading himself and his movement towards national isolation, Jabbour said.
