Lebanon president urges formation of a neutral cabinet

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suleiman  chamber of commerceLebanese President Michel Suleiman said on Monday during a speech from Beirutโ€™s Chamber of Agriculture, Commerce and Trade that he is in favor of forming a non-political cabinet, a move strongly opposed by March 8 parties.

โ€œDonโ€™t the Lebanese who are not affiliated with any party have the right to contribute to reviving the country?โ€ Suleiman said in reference Hezbollah led March 8 objection to a neutral cabinet

โ€œIf consensus is not reached on a national unity cabinet, does that compel us to remain without a cabinet?โ€ Suleiman added in reference to obstacle facing the formation of a neutral cabinet.

Suleiman went on to separate the issue of government formation from the upcoming presidential elections.

โ€œDoes forming a cabinet control the election of a president? No. Citizens are smarter than that.โ€ He said

However, he stressed the necessity of cabinet formation for the boosting of Lebanonโ€™s economy.

โ€œWe must create an innovative economic vision to fight unemployment and povertyโ€ฆand this is impossible without the formation of a cabinet capable of running government affairs.โ€ He stressed.

Suleiman added in a possible reference to the recent bombings in Lebanon:” Have we acted with responsibility that respects the confidence placed in us by citizens? Do we realize that the human remains that fly in a certain blast might be those of a dear person or relative?”

“A cabinet that reassures investors must be formed, a new president must be elected and parliamentary elections must be held.” He stressed.

“The door of consultations is still open and we hope the PM-designate will reach a solution that can pull the country out of its constitutional crisis.” He added.

Following his speech he met Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam at the presidential Palace in Baabda and dispatched his adviser Khalil Hrawi to meet Amal’s Ali Hasan Khalil, who will later visit the Baabda Palace together with Hassan Nasrallah’s aide Hussein Khalil and Minister Wael Abu Faour.

Lebanon has been struggling for months with the formation of a new cabinet since the resignation of caretaker PM Najib Mikati last April. Salam has cited the pre-conditions imposed by the opposing March 14 and March 8 blocs as a reason behind the delays in the process.

Lebanonโ€™s constitution stipulates that the president and premier-designate can sign decrees approving a government, but the parliament holds final sway on its activation with a vote of confidence.

Even if a new cabinet did not receive a vote of confidence, it would replace Mikatiโ€™s resigned government as the caretaker cabinet.

The formation of a fait accompli cabinet is likely to prompt a violent reaction from the Iranian backed Shiite group Hezbollah and its March 8 allies, Al-Akhbar newspaper reported last Monday .

โ€œThe plan of Saudi Intelligence chief Prince Bandar bin Sultan is to form a fait accompli cabinet to drag Hezbollah into a confrontation in the streets,โ€ March 8 sources said in remarks published by the pro-Hezbollah and Syrian regime daily last Monday.

โ€œ The plan is prompted by the illusion that Hezbollah will be forced into withdrawing from Syria to gather its forces to respond to internal security pressure.โ€ Al-Akhbar added

โ€œThey do not know that the party is prepared to confront the security challenges if it is faced with such challenges on more than one front.โ€ Al-Akhbar continued.

Recently Hezbollah has been focusing its attacks against Saudi Arabia . The struggle between Iran ( Through its proxy Hezbollah and the Syrian regime ) and Saudi Arabia over the future of Lebanon has reportedly cost former Lebanese finance minister Mohammad Chatah his life on December 27 when he and at least six others were killed in a massive bombing that rocked downtown Beirut.

Hezbollah also witnessed last Thursday another a bomb attack that targeted Haret al-Hreik neighborhood of of its Dhahieh stronghold. 5 people were killed and over 70 were injured in the attack

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41 responses to “Lebanon president urges formation of a neutral cabinet”

  1. 5thDrawer Avatar
    5thDrawer

    If no-one stands up against a ‘group’ who’s sole aim is despotic control, and formulates a working and economical government structure, with ONE person at it’s head, representing the country as a whole, then this idiocy will continue forever just like in Israel and Syria. And if that ‘special-interest group’ can’t stand it, and wants only bloody fights to be the dictator, then the people are truly lost if they don’t fight back for the ideal they aim to have.

    1. Reasonableman Avatar
      Reasonableman

      Well said.

  2. 5thDrawer Avatar
    5thDrawer

    If no-one stands up against a ‘group’ who’s sole aim is despotic control, and formulates a working and economical government structure, with ONE person at it’s head, representing the country as a whole, then this idiocy will continue forever just like in Israel and Syria. And if that ‘special-interest group’ can’t stand it, and wants only bloody fights to be the dictator, then the people are truly lost if they don’t fight back for the ideal they aim to have.

    1. Reasonableman Avatar
      Reasonableman

      Well said.

  3. You know what, I wasnt so sure about Suleiman a while ago but he has been talking a lot of sense lately and I completely agree that if the main parties cant get their crap together and agree on something then there should be a cabinet formed of independent/technocrats…. Maybe and I stress MAYBE it might be good for the country since the other formula is not working. We cant have one party who demands a blocking vote like it is their god given right. If the main parties are working FOR the country they would accept the formula given previously which puts everyone on even ground (or as much as can be possible).. Lebanon needs more independent and younger politicians who might be able to start thinking a little differently than the old guards that we have at the moment…

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar
      5thDrawer

      He’s tired of what doesn’t work too. Perhaps like Geagea.
      Problem is, it took them a while …

    2. Peaceforleb Avatar
      Peaceforleb

      Suleiman will do what his told. Plan and simple. I agree with most of what you said. However the reality is different. We need to stop blaming the one party and blame the whole F@%king lot of them. Every politician in Lebanon has had a hand in what Lebanon has turned into today.

      1. 5thDrawer Avatar
        5thDrawer

        The ‘Confessional’ bit doesn’t work. ๐Ÿ˜‰

      2. nagy_michael2 Avatar
        nagy_michael2

        Are you nuts or just plain ignorant as usual. As he is told..So if stands against hezbollah and all the wrongs they’re doing then he is paid Saudi of course..But Hezbollah who got pictures of their God Khomeini in every corner where they live along with Iranian flags.. Then who is paying them to do this?how did they get the weapons and paying salaries for all the men they hire for killing Lebanese and Syrians and doing terrorism against the west and Israel. In Nassrallah speeches he always mentioned that Iran is a red line. Any attackes from Israel or the US against it, then Hezbollah will interfere.. why all this generosities because Iran is shiites.. are you kidding me dude..

        1. Peaceforleb Avatar
          Peaceforleb

          I’m not the ignorant one, you are. You have your head so far up your ass the shit is starting to drip out of your ears. All you are good at doing is blaming the some old people or groups. Which is fine. However you don’t need to be rude and abrupt all time. People have opinions and people have rights. Look out side the circle for once. See what really is happening in the ME. Your rants are getting quite old. And frankly exchanging with you is a waste of time. You have your mind set on blaming these groups and that’s it. You can never respond without being the rude pig you are.

          1. nagy_michael2 Avatar
            nagy_michael2

            you just a damn ass terrorist who follows Nassrallah to death. you’re a pig and traitor to your own country. you support and love for Syria and Iran is beyond me and any descent lebanese. get out of Lebanon and go back to Tehran you piece of crap..

          2. Hind Abyad Avatar
            Hind Abyad

            Hi

          3. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Another 4 months go by and nothing changes … seems it ever will.

          4. Hind Abyad Avatar
            Hind Abyad

            I miss nagy.

          5. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            There’s a lot who went missing … Wonder how Prohettttt is doing. ๐Ÿ™‚

          6. Hind Abyad Avatar
            Hind Abyad

            Prohettttt..he left thee years ago.. O made life impossible.

          7. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            Happy to see YaLibnan ‘moderates’ some of it now.

          8. Hind Abyad Avatar
            Hind Abyad

            What four months here it’s 2 years ๐Ÿ˜‰

          9. 5thDrawer Avatar
            5thDrawer

            OOppps … corrected. :-)))) And isn’t talk all they do? :-))

          10. Hind Abyad Avatar
            Hind Abyad

            yes ..no spamming.

  4. You know what, I wasnt so sure about Suleiman a while ago but he has been talking a lot of sense lately and I completely agree that if the main parties cant get their crap together and agree on something then there should be a cabinet formed of independent/technocrats…. Maybe and I stress MAYBE it might be good for the country since the other formula is not working. We cant have one party who demands a blocking vote like it is their god given right. If the main parties are working FOR the country they would accept the formula given previously which puts everyone on even ground (or as much as can be possible).. Lebanon needs more independent and younger politicians who might be able to start thinking a little differently than the old guards that we have at the moment…

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar
      5thDrawer

      He’s tired of what doesn’t work too. Perhaps like Geagea.
      Problem is, it took them a while …

    2. Peaceforleb Avatar
      Peaceforleb

      Suleiman will do what his told. Plan and simple. I agree with most of what you said. However the reality is different. We need to stop blaming the one party and blame the whole F@%king lot of them. Every politician in Lebanon has had a hand in what Lebanon has turned into today.

      1. 5thDrawer Avatar
        5thDrawer

        The ‘Confessional’ bit doesn’t work. ๐Ÿ˜‰

      2. nagy_michael2 Avatar
        nagy_michael2

        Are you nuts or just plain ignorant as usual. As he is told..So if stands against hezbollah and all the wrongs they’re doing then he is paid Saudi of course..But Hezbollah who got pictures of their God Khomeini in every corner where they live along with Iranian flags.. Then who is paying them to do this?how did they get the weapons and paying salaries for all the men they hire for killing Lebanese and Syrians and doing terrorism against the west and Israel. In Nassrallah speeches he always mentioned that Iran is a red line. Any attackes from Israel or the US against it, then Hezbollah will interfere.. why all this generosities because Iran is shiites.. are you kidding me dude..

        1. Peaceforleb Avatar
          Peaceforleb

          I’m not the ignorant one, you are. You have your head so far up year ass the shit is starting to drip out of your ears. All you are good at doing is blaming the some old people or groups. Which is fine. However you don’t need to be rude and abrupt all time. People have opinions and people have rights. Look out side the circle for once. See what really is happening in the ME. Your rants are getting quite old. And frankly exchanging with you is a waste of time. You have your mind set on blaming these groups and that’s it. You can never respond without being the rude pig you are.

          1. nagy_michael2 Avatar
            nagy_michael2

            you just a damn ass terrorist who follows Nassrallah to death. you’re a pig and traitor to your own country. you support and love for Syria and Iran is beyond me and any descent lebanese. get out of Lebanon and go back to Tehran you piece of crap..

  5. The real lebanese Avatar
    The real lebanese

    Suleiman is about to do something without HA within the next couple of weeks. Everyone is tired of M8s attitude.

    1. Peaceforleb Avatar
      Peaceforleb

      Oh no Real, make no mistake, most are feed up with M14. Or should I say M14, western lap dogs.

      1. nagy_michael2 Avatar
        nagy_michael2

        and you are the khomeini puppies i suppose..

      2. The real lebanese Avatar
        The real lebanese

        Fed up for what? Wanting a neutral cabinet

      3. kamille1 Avatar

        PEACE, without calling each other names, what is wrong with having a neutral government??

  6. The real lebanese Avatar
    The real lebanese

    Suleiman is about to do something without HA within the next couple of weeks. Everyone is tired of M8s attitude.

    1. Peaceforleb Avatar
      Peaceforleb

      Oh no Real, make no mistake, most are feed up with M14. Or should I say M14, western lap dogs.

      1. nagy_michael2 Avatar
        nagy_michael2

        and you are the khomeini puppies i suppose..

      2. The real lebanese Avatar
        The real lebanese

        Fed up for what? Wanting a neutral cabinet

      3. kamille1 Avatar

        PEACE, without calling each other names, what is wrong with having a neutral government??

  7. Fauzia45 Avatar

    This is the right time to form a neutral government!,,,,^ There comes a time when one must take a position because it is right* !A government that is concerned about the welfare of the people,their happiness,their protection etc,,a government that can protect diversity and coexistence ,a government that serves its people !

  8. Fauzia45 Avatar

    This is the right time to form a neutral government!,,,,^ There comes a time when one must take a position because it is right* !A government that is concerned about the welfare of the people,their happiness,their protection etc,,a government that can protect diversity and coexistence ,a government that serves its people !

  9. guss043 Avatar

    Ya Khayi form it khlisna!! what r u afraid of, ,you need to brake the Nasrallah frigin fear factor. have some balls man!!

  10. guss043 Avatar

    Ya Khayi form it khlisna!! what r u afraid of, ,you need to brake the Nasrallah frigin fear factor. have some balls man!!

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