Internal Disputes behind delay of cabinet formation, MTV

MTV reported today that the dispute between PM designate Nagib Mikati on one side and the FPM and Hezbollah on the other continues.

MTV added that the latest suggested 30 member cabinet lineup is as follows:

11 portfolios for Lebanese president Michel Suleiman, MP Walid Jumblatt and Mikati

11 for the FPM, AMAL and Hezbollah

8 portfolios approved for the rest of the parties.

LBC reported that Amal chief Speaker Nabih Berri has asked for more time to resolve the obstacles behind cabinet formation.

FPM leader Michel Aoun has reportedly been insisting on on a 40 % share in the cabinet for his parliamentary bloc or 12 portfolios . The dispute appears to be now between Aoun and Berri, since they will have to share 11 between them based on the above lineup

The Iranian and Syrian -backed Hezbollah brought down PM Saad Hariri’s government on January 12 over the Special Tribunal for Lebanon’s (STL) imminent indictment which is widely expected to implicate Hezbollah members in the assassination of former PM Rafik Hariri in 2005

Mikati was appointed in January as the PM designate with the backing of the Hezbollah March 8 alliance and MPs Walid Jumblatt and Mohammad Safadi. March 14 leaders have repeatedly said that intimidation from Hezbollah’s weapons helped secure the parliamentary majority for Mikati’s nomination.

March 14 parties have announced that they will not take part in the cabinet Mikati is currently forming, and Hariri vowed to fight the use of non-state weapons “peacefully and democratically.”