Portfolios debate dominates Saniora consultations

Source: Al-Manar, 31-05-2008
The prime minister-elect Fouad Saniora resumes on Saturday consultations with Parliamentary bloc leaders to form a new cabinet of national unity.
The central debate focused on the distribution of the portfolios in the new cabinet between the opposition and the loyalty and especially the five "sovereign" ministries which are the Interior, Defense, Finance, Justice and Foreign Affairs.
As-Safir newspaper reported Hizbullah and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri's Amal movement are demanding the telecommunications ministry, held in the resigned government by Marwan Hemade, in addition to the Foreign affairs, labor, agriculture and health ministries.
However PSP leader MP Walid Jumblat, as-Safir added, approved granting a portfolio in the new cabinet to his rival Druze leader Talal Arslan provided that one of the Shiite ministries be granted to MP Bassim Sabah. An-Nahar newspaper reported that Berri is likely to nominate Ambassador Jihad Mortada or member of his Parliamentary Bloc Ali Bazzi for the Foreign Affairs portfolio.
Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun, who also heads the Change and Reform Bloc, asked Saniora to be represented in the cabinet by five Christian ministers. Aoun, demanded the Finance, which is the most important among the so called "sovereign" ministries and has been held by al-Mustaqbal Movement economists for years, Public Works, Social affairs, agriculture or Industry ministries, the daily An-Nahar reported.
President Michel Suleiman, the newspaper added, would appoint Interior and Defense ministers. MP Michel Murr, who represents a bloc representing the Metn constituency, informed Saniora that his son, Elias, is the bloc's representative for a cabinet seat, setting the defense or foreign portfolios as suitable seats.
MP Mohammed Safadi, representing the Tripoli Gathering, asked for a cabinet seat, stating that the public works portfolio, which he had held in the pervious government, is the chosen seat in the new cabinet.