General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim told local media Wednesday that he had “completed ... to the fullest” his role in the president’s initiative to resolve the government formation deadlock, paving the way for the Cabinet’s formation before Christmas.
President Michel Aoun began consultations last week in a bid to catalyze a breakthrough in the formation process, which has been deadlocked for over six months. The initiative has focused on finding a solution to appease the six pro-Hezbollah Sunni lawmakers whose demand for a ministerial portfolio has most recently held up the formation.
A key element of Aoun’s plan calls for allotting a minister from his own Cabinet share to the six lawmakers. That minister would be a compromise candidate from outside the group of six.
As part of this effort, Ibrahim met Tuesday with five of the MPs, and they devised a five-point resolution plan.
Aoun will allow a minister from his share to represent the MPs, an offer Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri will have to approve. The Sunni MPs will then propose a list of candidates from outside of their group for the seat, Hariri will meet the six MPs, and, finally, Hariri will acknowledge the MPs’ representation and together with Aoun choose a minister from the list of candidates the MPs put forward.
The remaining parts of the resolution are “on the political level and ... will be taken very soon,” Ibrahim told local daily Al Joumhouria.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
