Yesterday OTV reported that an agreement on the interior minister has been reached . Subsequent reports named retired Internal Security Forces Maj. Gen. Marwan Charbel as the minster of Interior .
OTV reported today that the agreement was renounced . No explanation was given.
Other obstacles facing the government formation:
Sunni representation:
Hezbollah is reportedly insisting on including in the cabinet Faisal Karami , son of former PM Omar Karami as the representative of the Sunnis.
Names of ministers:
LBC reported that PM-designate Nagib Mikati wants the political parties to suggest three names for each portfolio as he considers that he has the right to have the final say on the cabinet line-up. This idea was rejected by FPM leader MP Michel Aoun.
Energy and Telecon ministries
LBC also reported that Mikati would like to retrieve either the energy portfolio or the telecom portfolio from Aoun’s Change and Reform bloc but this idea is also being rejected by Aoun
Al Manar reported that another meeting is being planned at Mikati’s residence in Verdun. The meeting will again be attended by Gebran Bassil who represents Aoun, Ali Hassan Khalil who represented Speaker Nabih Berri and Hussein Khalil who represented Hezbollah chief
Once again FPM is blaming the president and PM designate for the delay in cabinet formation. FPM MP Ziad Aswad told Sada al-Balad on Thursday: The real dispute in the government formation is caused by the president and premier who are violating the constitutional boundaries.
Another FPM criticized Mikati on Thursday. MP Ibrahim Kanaan told AFP that “the problem regarding cabinet formation is not related to ministerial issues ,” adding that it seems that Mikati does not have the “political will” to form a cabinet.
Based on the above disputes no one knows now when will the new cabinet see the light .
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