while the majority won the parliament majority." He said
Arslan won his seat in the Aley electoral district as a reward by MP Walid Jumblatt for his positive contribution on May 7, 2008 when Hezbollah tried unsuccessfully to occupy the Druze strongholds of MT Lebanon , following the occupation of west Beirut. Jumblatt who could have easily won the 2 Druze seats in Aley left one slot vacant to allow Arslan, (who was on the opposition electoral list ) to win his seat.
Arslan's coining of the term "two simultaneous majorities" was aimed at justification of more seats for the opposition than they are entitled to in the new cabinet.
Every day a new formula for the cabinet makeup comes up, despite the fact the PM designate MP Saad Hariri has not yet publicly mentioned any particular formula
Jumblatt criticized in an article in the al-Anbaa weekly newspaper members of the majority and the opposition alike for "dictating to the PM designate what to do and for inventing cabinet formulas."
"lets stop all this outbidding , all he needs is real political support from all sides to facilitate the formation of the cabinet " Jumblatt said.
Jumblatt is concerned that The Special Tribunal (SPL) for Lebanon may issue an indictment against Hezbollah that will be similar to what was published in the Der Spiegal report. This issue has reportedly been discussed when Jumblatt met with Nasrallah last month. According to observers
- Hezbollah's Nasrallah is reportedly scared that such an indictment could spell the end of Hezbollah as a political group and this is why he is trying to control the government formation
- This is why Jumblatt is pushing for calm, because such an indictment would trigger a Sunni Shiite clash
- This may be the reason why Hezbollah is reportedly pushing General Aoun to insist on proportional representation and pushing Arslan to talk about "two simultaneous majorities".
- This is why Aoun is insisting on the ministry of Justice
The SPL will not be issuing the indictment anytime soon , meanwhile Lebanon needs a cabinet urgently. Unless the opposition admits real defeat, Hariri is bound to face many obstacles in forming the next cabinet.
Tuesday
6:05pm President Michel Suleiman arrived at Sharm el-Sheikh where he is expected to meet President Hosni Mubarak and other leaders during the Non-Aligned Movement summit.
5:55pm Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri meets with ‘Democratic Gathering’ parliamentary bloc leader MP Walid Jumblatt.
4:45pm President Michel Suleiman left Beirut for Sharm el-Sheikh to head Lebanon’s delegation at the Non-Aligned Movement summit.
4:10pm Army Commander Gen. Jean Kahwaji received in Yerze a Hezbollah parliamentary delegation headed by MP Mohammed Raad to thank the military for securing the recent legislative elections.
4:00pm PM-Designate Hariri received MP Dori Chamoun and reviewed the latest developments with him.
3:50pm The Lebanese army and UNIFIL formed a committee to investigate this morning’s explosions at the Khirbit Silim region
03:17pm Gebran Bassil said after meeting Hariri: Proportionality does not violate the constitution
3:00pm PM-designate Hariri received Defense Minister Elias Murr in his house in downtown Beirut.
2:35pm PM-designate Hariri received Telecommunications Minister Gebran Bassil, as an envoy of FPM leader MP Michel Aoun. Discussions focused on government formation
1:46pm The Indictment Committee revoked its decision to stop the trial for 3 suspects in al-Madina Bank case.
1:15pm President Michel Suleiman meets Iranian ambassador Mohammed Riza Shibani at Baabda Palace.
1:10pm Judge Nabil Sari questioned one of those arrested in Tripoli’s Bahsas bombing case.12
12:47pm MP Atef Majdalani discussed the latest developments with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir in Diman.
11:16 Phalange leader Amin Gemayel after meeting with Colombia’s vice president: The Lebanese political system is in crisis. The opposition is planning to set up a new system through its conditions.
11:10 MP Antoine Zahra: Those who emerged victorious from the elections should govern the country and rule without any internal or external preconditions.
10:30 Former Cabinet Minister Wiam Wahhab told LBC: I am not a mediator between Jumblatt and Damascus. The road to Damascus is open for him. Wahhab met with Jumblatt on Monday night and said that the PSP and Tawhid party will issue a joint statement on their meeting.
10:17 A meeting is underway in Rabiyeh between MP Michel Aoun and a Hezbollah delegation comprised of Hussein Khalil and Wafiq Safa. Telecommunications Minister Gebran Bassil is also attending the meeting.
9:38 MTV reported that the explosions heard in al-Dabsheh neighborhood were the result of a weapons depot blast.
9:17am VOL: Blasts were heard at 7:00 am in al-Dabsheh neighborhood in the south only to appear that the sounds came from an abandoned building. Security forces are investigating the matter.
08:50 extinguishing the fire inside the Al Matouk warehouse in Dekwaneh continues . Several cases of suffocation reported and the Red Cross is treating them. The residents of nearby buildings remained inside
08:46 MP Qabbani told Al Liwa : the meeting of the Dar Al-Fatwa is still on under the motto of "safe Beirut"
08:34 Ki-moon: I am optimistic about the future of Lebanon . we must encourage political maturity because it is necessary to form quickly a national unity government
08:30's "Future newspaper ": Saltanov will arrive in Beirut later this week to discuss the situation in the region . he will all visit Damascus, and some other Arab capitals
08:24, Al Liwa : General Aoun to send Gebran Bassil to Qoraytem today to meet with Hariri
08:23 MP Yassine Jaber told the "Voice of Lebanon": things are going reasonably well and are on the right , and I expect the birth of the government between now and the end of the month
7:30am Former MP Mustafa Alloush told VOL: Things are still at the starting point and the obstacle is veto power. Neither PM-designate Saad Hariri nor President Michel Suleiman wants a single faceted cabinet.
Monday
06:18pm Caretaking Prime Minister Fouad Siniora meets with President Michel Suleiman at the presidential palace in Baabda, to discuss cabinet formation, domestic and regional politics
4:10pm FM Salloukh announced in Sharm el-Sheikh that Lebanon will run for the non-permanent membership at the Security Council for 2010-2011 on behalf of Arab member states.
3:35pm MP Arslan was elected head of the Lebanese Democratic Party uncontested. He was also elected as a member of the politburo.
03:15 pm Following his meeting with president Suleiman , Speaker Berri said that “discretion is the best method to reach goals.” He urged the politicians to cooperate on forming the cabinet
03:10pm Jumblatt: Hariri needs effective political support from all parties to facilitate the process of the formation of the government
03:07pm Hariri met Sami Gemayel, also met with a delegation from the Committee of the Lebanese detained in Syrian jails and Vice-President of Colombia
03:03pm Saudi Ambassador: Our aspiration is to see a Lebanese government and we will support any move to preserve the unity of Lebanon
03:00pm UNIFIL deputy spokeswoman: the security situation in the south is completely stable and all parties are committed to the implementation of the 1701 in full. The Lebanese army in coordination with UNIFIL has brought the security situation under control.
03:00 pm Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun said after meeting EU Ambassador Patrick Laurent that those who are against forming the new cabinet based on proportional representation “crave more power and do not want Lebanon to progress.” Aoun did not explain on what basis he is entitled to proportional representation
02:48pm MP Houri said : proportional representation in the cabinet means : 16 ministers for the parliament majority 8 ministers for the parliament minority and 6 ministers for the president
02:48pm MP Hajj Hassan : the climate for the government formation is positive and our understanding it will be a real effective and productive cabinet
02:37pm New TV : Youssef Shaaban is still inside the Internal security building in Jubeil awaiting the completion of the formalities for releasing him today
2:29pm Speaker Nabih Berri arrived at Baabda palace for talks with President Michel Suleiman. The two men are discussing latest developments and consultations to form a new cabinet.
02:20 pm CNN: Alleged Nazi camp guard John Demjanjuk was formally charged Monday with being an accessory to about 27900 murders during World War II.
02 :15 pm Lebanon's Central Bank: New 500 LL coin will soon be put into circulation in Lebanon
02:10pm Fire erupts in Showaliq - Jezzine and the civil defense is trying to extinguish it
1:58pm Tourism Minister Elie Marouni stressed that Zahle has the right to be represented in the new cabinet, in administrative posts and all state institutions.
