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28/06/2009 A few hours after MP Saad Hariri was designated as next PM, consultations started within the rival blocs over the structure of the cabinet and each party's portion in it…
The opposition seems united and firm in its stance: it will take part in the cabinet as a "whole;" otherwise, it will stay outside the cabinet, again as a "whole."
In this context, MP Talal Erslan said the opposition will either participate as a "whole entity" in a future government or it stays out. "Lebanon cannot be governed by the rule of majority and minority. It can only be governed on the basis of balance, national consensus and higher national interest, which is embodied in partnership not monopoly," he explained.
He said the opposition was a whole entity. "It either takes part in the government as such or it doesn't. There are no under the table or over the table tradeoffs."
Earlier, member of the Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc MP Hasan Fadlallah told Lebanese daily An-Nahar that "opposition forces were in complete accord" over conditions for their participation in the government. "Hezbollah and Hariri have already agreed to continue deliberations and contacts. We are waiting for the designate premier to turn words into political realities because openness has requirements. This is what the negotiations will show," he added. Fadlalah reiterated that Hezbollah was "prepared for cooperation with an open mind depending on what the premier designate will propose for an upcoming government."
For his part, member of the Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc MP Nawwaf al-Moussawi told the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat that "opposition forces will take the appropriate position in light of what the premier designate will propose." He stressed the need for active and real partnership to allow the formation of a government worthy of being called one of national unity. "Discussion is ongoing and there are rules that must be respected," he said, advising against skipping stages. "It is not matter of shares, it is a matter of implementing the requirements of consensus and constitutional provisions," Moussawi added.
Meanwhile, member of the Change and Reform bloc MP Alain Aoun repeated calls for proportional representation but said the opposition will "not pre-empt negations with the premier designate. When we find out what Hariri will propose, then we can adopt a position."
"A government of national unity is the best guarantee for stability. There is no need for the previous alignment to remain unchanged. We can be in agreement with the ministers of the Future movement and disagree with our allies," he said. "The underlying causes for the previous alignment have been set aside and the controversial files that lead to crises have been pulled out from the circle of debate," Aoun added.
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