Hussein Assi
29/07/2009 Two days before the end of the month of July, the "optimism" of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri over the cabinet formation process seems to have "triumphed."
One week ago, Berri seemed to be looking alone for a "close birth" of the Lebanese government. He didn't hesitate to express "optimism" that a "partnership government" would be finally formed by Prime Minister-Designate Saad Hariri. At the time, Berri's allies and rivals didn't feel that the Speaker's "optimism" was serious or even realistic. Some of them even went on to claim that actually, the government wouldn't see light before September.
Things changed quickly… The optimism's "infection" seems today to embrace politicians from the various political blocs as a result of a "magical formula" reached by the main "poles" giving the opposition a "hidden" guaranteeing third in the cabinet, and allowing the Speaker, once again, to perceive the "victory."
"Did you finally acquit me from the optimism crime?" Berri asked reporters on Wednesday just after holding his weekly meeting with President Michel Sleiman at the Baabda Presidential Palace.
Berri, who discussed with the President the latest developments in the cabinet issue, announced that the political process for Cabinet formation has ended and talks now focus on the distribution of portfolios. "I can affirm that the political process concerning the formation of the new government is complete," Berri emphasized.
"We have now entered the technical stage represented by names and ministerial portfolios," Berri said, adding that the distribution deal would be finalized in a few days. "Choosing ministers and portfolios could take one, two, three, four or five days or more. I don't want to be limited to a timeframe," Berri told reporters.
"However, I assure you that the political process for Cabinet formation has ended," the Speaker stressed.
HARIRI: GOVERNMENT FORMULA ALMOST FINAL
29/07/2009 Two days before the end of the month of July, the "optimism" of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri over the cabinet formation process seems to have "triumphed."
One week ago, Berri seemed to be looking alone for a "close birth" of the Lebanese government. He didn't hesitate to express "optimism" that a "partnership government" would be finally formed by Prime Minister-Designate Saad Hariri. At the time, Berri's allies and rivals didn't feel that the Speaker's "optimism" was serious or even realistic. Some of them even went on to claim that actually, the government wouldn't see light before September.
Things changed quickly… The optimism's "infection" seems today to embrace politicians from the various political blocs as a result of a "magical formula" reached by the main "poles" giving the opposition a "hidden" guaranteeing third in the cabinet, and allowing the Speaker, once again, to perceive the "victory."
"Did you finally acquit me from the optimism crime?" Berri asked reporters on Wednesday just after holding his weekly meeting with President Michel Sleiman at the Baabda Presidential Palace.
Berri, who discussed with the President the latest developments in the cabinet issue, announced that the political process for Cabinet formation has ended and talks now focus on the distribution of portfolios. "I can affirm that the political process concerning the formation of the new government is complete," Berri emphasized.
"We have now entered the technical stage represented by names and ministerial portfolios," Berri said, adding that the distribution deal would be finalized in a few days. "Choosing ministers and portfolios could take one, two, three, four or five days or more. I don't want to be limited to a timeframe," Berri told reporters.
"However, I assure you that the political process for Cabinet formation has ended," the Speaker stressed.
HARIRI: GOVERNMENT FORMULA ALMOST FINAL
For his part, Premier-designate Saad Hariri said Wednesday after talks with President Michel Sleiman that a formula for a future government has almost been finalized adding that the focus was now on the distribution of portfolios.
"The government formula is almost final, and we will work seriously on the distribution of portfolios in order to reach an eventual shape-up," Hariri told reporters at Baabda Palace.
He said the cabinet's structure "allows for everyone's participation. All teams are naming their own ministers making the government one of real national unity."
"I will continue to work seriously and silently, as before, but with a slightly faster pace in order to come out with a capable government," he said.
Hariri thanked "all parliamentary blocs and President Suleiman for their efforts that helped us reach this formula."
Sheikh Qassem: Hezbollah Satisfied with Gov't Adopted Formula
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