Hariri Loses Opposition Support in Second Nomination Challenge
Hussein Assi Readers Number : 26
15/09/2009 Thanks to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and his bloc, the parliamentary consultations' "scenario" has changed…
Seventy-five days on the first nomination of MP Saad Hariri as Prime Minister-Designate, the same "scenario" repeated itself at the Baabda Presidential Palace with even the same "details" and no "surprises" at all…
Just like in the first time, the lawmakers arrive at the Baabda Presidential Palace, hold short meetings with the President and then tell reporters what they already know about their nominations: the loyalty re-names Hariri without reservations while the opposition refrains from naming anyone.
The only difference between the first and second rounds was marked by Speaker Nabih Berri who decided not to name anyone for the premiership post.
Berri, who voted for Hariri in the first round to form a national-unity and partnership cabinet, changed his mind after he was "alarmed" by Hariri's latest statements in which the Lebanese MP seemed proud to whatever he wants and adopt whatever strategy he likes, ignoring all previous slogans of "partnership" and unity.
On Monday, Hariri said that he has the right to adopt a "different" negotiations approach. "I have kept my hand extended but they (the opposition) have always rejected our open approach," Hariri said during an iftar at his residence in Qoreitem. "In face of such rigid stance, it then becomes my constitutional right to adopt a different strategy," he stressed. "No one tells me what to do as long as I am working within my constitutional authorities that allow me to form the cabinet in cooperation with the president," he added.
MP Ali Hasan Khalil from Berri's Development and Liberation bloc said from the Baabda Presidential Palace that his bloc did not name anyone as premier. "We will cooperate with the PM-designate and the Lebanese President on the basis of a national unity government based on the 15-10-5 formula," Khalil told reporters from Baabda.
For his part, the head of the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc MP Michel Aoun said that his bloc did not name anyone to form the government, adding that he has reservations about naming Hariri. He complained that the political "tone is still escalatory," and urged the various political leaders to commit to dialogue "because it is the only way to salvation."
The head of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Mohamad Raad told reporters in turn that his bloc did not name anyone as premier. He offered cooperation to form a national unity government.
Meanwhile, Deputy Parliament Speaker Farid Makari, former Premier Najib Miqati, MP Michel Murr, MP Nicolas Fattoush as well as the Future movement, the Democratic Gathering bloc and the Lebanese Forces bloc re-named Hariri as PM-Designate and urged all parties to facilitate his mission.
SISSON IN BAABDA, LUNCH JOINS SLEIMAN, AOUN AND BASSIL
During the consultations, US ambassador to Beirut Michele Sisson arrived at the Baabda Presidential Palace in an unannounced visit. According to press reports, she was arranging US Special envoy George Mitchell's visit to Beirut on Wednesday.
Another interesting part of the day was the "lunch meeting" that joined President Michel Sleiman, MP Michel Aoun and Minister Gebran Bassil during the "break" between the morning and afternoon shifts. Aoun and Bassil left the Presidential Palace following the meeting without delivering any statement.
Hussein Assi Readers Number : 26
15/09/2009 Thanks to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and his bloc, the parliamentary consultations' "scenario" has changed…
Seventy-five days on the first nomination of MP Saad Hariri as Prime Minister-Designate, the same "scenario" repeated itself at the Baabda Presidential Palace with even the same "details" and no "surprises" at all…
Just like in the first time, the lawmakers arrive at the Baabda Presidential Palace, hold short meetings with the President and then tell reporters what they already know about their nominations: the loyalty re-names Hariri without reservations while the opposition refrains from naming anyone.
The only difference between the first and second rounds was marked by Speaker Nabih Berri who decided not to name anyone for the premiership post.
Berri, who voted for Hariri in the first round to form a national-unity and partnership cabinet, changed his mind after he was "alarmed" by Hariri's latest statements in which the Lebanese MP seemed proud to whatever he wants and adopt whatever strategy he likes, ignoring all previous slogans of "partnership" and unity.
On Monday, Hariri said that he has the right to adopt a "different" negotiations approach. "I have kept my hand extended but they (the opposition) have always rejected our open approach," Hariri said during an iftar at his residence in Qoreitem. "In face of such rigid stance, it then becomes my constitutional right to adopt a different strategy," he stressed. "No one tells me what to do as long as I am working within my constitutional authorities that allow me to form the cabinet in cooperation with the president," he added.
MP Ali Hasan Khalil from Berri's Development and Liberation bloc said from the Baabda Presidential Palace that his bloc did not name anyone as premier. "We will cooperate with the PM-designate and the Lebanese President on the basis of a national unity government based on the 15-10-5 formula," Khalil told reporters from Baabda.
For his part, the head of the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc MP Michel Aoun said that his bloc did not name anyone to form the government, adding that he has reservations about naming Hariri. He complained that the political "tone is still escalatory," and urged the various political leaders to commit to dialogue "because it is the only way to salvation."
The head of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Mohamad Raad told reporters in turn that his bloc did not name anyone as premier. He offered cooperation to form a national unity government.
Meanwhile, Deputy Parliament Speaker Farid Makari, former Premier Najib Miqati, MP Michel Murr, MP Nicolas Fattoush as well as the Future movement, the Democratic Gathering bloc and the Lebanese Forces bloc re-named Hariri as PM-Designate and urged all parties to facilitate his mission.
SISSON IN BAABDA, LUNCH JOINS SLEIMAN, AOUN AND BASSIL
During the consultations, US ambassador to Beirut Michele Sisson arrived at the Baabda Presidential Palace in an unannounced visit. According to press reports, she was arranging US Special envoy George Mitchell's visit to Beirut on Wednesday.
Another interesting part of the day was the "lunch meeting" that joined President Michel Sleiman, MP Michel Aoun and Minister Gebran Bassil during the "break" between the morning and afternoon shifts. Aoun and Bassil left the Presidential Palace following the meeting without delivering any statement.
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