Future Movement Parliamentary bloc MP Hadi Hbeish hosted on Friday a dinner banquet that was attended by key figures in Lebanon, including President Michel Suleiman and Premier-designate Tammam Salam, with the aim of discussing the the formation of a new government, An Nahar reported on Monday.
The banquet was also attended by the head of the Future Movement Parliamentary MP Fouad Siniora, Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai, Future Movement MPs Ahmed Fatfat and Nohad al-Mashnouq, Army Commander General Jean Kahwaji, and General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim.
Salam became the new Prime Minister designate just over six months ago but failed so far to form a new government.
Since his appointment Salam has been trying to form a cabinet based on giving an equal share to the rival political blocks – March 14 , March 8 and the centrists, but the Hezbollah led March 8 alliance is insisting on having a bigger share in the cabinet to allow it to veto its decisions . Salam has been opposed to giving any party a veto power ( usually referred to as a blocking third ) . He has on several occasions floated the idea of forming a neutral cabinet of technocrats, but Hezbollah and FPM leader MP Michel Aoun have been opposed to this idea too and this is why Lebanon is still without a government and Najib Mikati is still acting as the caretaker Prime Minister.
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