Press review 26-12-2013

Press review 26-12-2013
Now Lebanon
Suleiman to form neutral cabinet despite
March 8 objection, paper reports
http://bit.ly/1c71gXI
BEIRUT – President Michel Suleiman is heading toward green-lighting a
neutral government in mid-January against the wishes of March 8 parties,
Al-Hayat newspaper reported Thursday.
Suleiman is resorting to the formation of a fait accompli cabinet “even
though March 8 forces are threatening to not hand over the ministries and
take to the streets,” sources told the daily.
The sources added that the neutral government would be formed in midJanuary, “giving enough time to form another government if the neutral
one” does not receive a vote of confidence ahead of the constitutionallymandated start of the March 25 parliamentary preparations for the
presidential elections.
Lebanon’s constitution stipulates that the president and premier-designate
can sign decrees approving a government, but the parliament holds final
sway on its activation with a vote of confidence. If the neutral cabinet did
not receive a vote of confidence, it would replace Najib Miqati’s current
resigned government as the caretaker cabinet.
“If a consensus on a government [following a caretaker neutral cabinet] is
not reached, the country is heading towards political chaos,” Al-Hayat also
reported.
The sources explained that March 8 might not recognize the neutral
cabinet’s status as a caretaker government replacing Najib Miqati’s current
resigned cabinet.
Al-Hayat was the latest in a series of newspapers reporting that Suleiman
was headed toward approving a fait accompli caretaker government.
On Wednesday, Lebanon’s president voiced the urgency of forming a
government ahead of the constitutionally-mandated start of the March 25
parliamentary preparations for the presidential elections.
He also hinted that he would support a neutral cabinet, which March 8
parties reject, asking, “why is it said that a political cabinet is an inclusive
one?”
Hezbollah, the Amal Movement and the Progressive Socialist Party have all
voiced support for a cabinet that would give nine ministers each to the
March 8 and March 14 alliances while centrists would hold six seats.
However, the March 14 alliance rejects the proposal amid the deepening
political deadlock in Lebanon that has seen the country go nine months
without the formation of a cabinet following Najib Miqati’s resignation as
premier.
Meanwhile, the debate concerning the presidential elections has gained
pace recently, with Suleiman announcing, on several occasions, that he is
against the extension of his term, which expires in May 2014.
Geagea calls for election
of strong president
http://bit.ly/1iiFntz
BEIRUT – Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Wednesday
reiterated his desire for a strong Lebanese presidency and hinted his
support for a fait accompli cabinet.
“The position of the president of the republic must regain its role, and it is
necessary for all MPs to do their part and fulfill their duty in the parliament
to elect a new president,” he said in a press conference following his
meeting with Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai.
“Since the [1989] Taif Agreement, presidential elections have been mere
compromises,” Geagea added.
However, he defended Suleiman by saying his term was an exception and
that the president has adopted national stances that have brought him
under attack.
Geagea also hinted his support for a fait accompli cabinet, saying that a
“constitutional government is one which the president and prime-minister
designate [form].”
Lebanon’s constitution mandates that the president and PM-designate can
sign decrees forming a government, which then comes up for a vote of
confidence in the parliament. Even if the parliament rejected the cabinet, it
would replace the current caretaker cabinet as a new caretaker
government.
March 8 parties have voiced their opposition to Suleiman and PMdesignate Tammam Salam forming a fait accompli cabinet that lacks
approval from a majority of the parliament’s MPs, and instead have
proposed a 9-9-9-6 formula that would give the March 8 and March 14
alliances nine ministers each while centrists would receive six.
Geagea reiterated the March 14 alliance’s objection to the 9-9-6 formula,
saying following his meeting with the Patriarch that the Hezbollah-backed
proposal was a “paralyzing one.”
Salam is struggling to achieve the formation of his cabinet, nine months
after the resignation of caretaker PM Najib Miqati. He has cited the preconditions imposed by the opposing March 14 and March 8 blocs as a
reason behind the delays in the process.
Meanwhile, the debate concerning the presidential elections has gained
pace recently, with Suleiman announcing, on several occasions, that he is
against the extension of his term, which expires in May 2014.
Maronite Patriarch voices
importance of constitution
http://bit.ly/1jKMkoW
BEIRUT - Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai on Christmas voiced
the importance of adhering to Lebanon’s constitution to resolve Lebanon’s
political and security crises.
“The constitution is a truth that cannot be manipulated for the sake of
personal and political interests,” he said in a homily in the presence of
President Michel Suleiman and other political and religious dignitaries.
“Law is a truth that requires respect and adherence,” he added.
“Only the truth itself can rescue Lebanon from its political, economic and
security crises,” he added.
The Patriarch also exhorted Suleiman and the country’s political leaders to
“form a new government able to respond to the challenges facing the
country, especially the economic, security and social ones.”
Rai’s speech came after Suleiman called for the formation of a government
before the parliament begins the process of electing his successor.
Future MP reiterates party
support for neutral cabinet
http://bit.ly/19ji3qk
BEIRUT - Future bloc MP Ammar Houri on Thursday reiterated his party’s
support for a neutral cabinet amid reports President Michel Suleiman was
headed towards green-lighting a fait accompli government.
“We have demanded [since the beginning] a neutral government outside
the framework of the deep political divisions in the country,” the MP told
Voice of Lebanon (100.5) radio.
“The neutral government [will be in place] in the interim period until the
presidential elections are held,” he said.
The March 14 alliance MP also told the station that “there is no option other
than respecting the constitution,” in reference to reports that Suleiman
would sign a decree green-lighting a neutral cabinet.
Lebanon’s constitution stipulates that the president and premier-designate
can sign decrees approving a government, but the parliament holds final
sway on its activation with a vote of confidence.
If a cabinet did not receive a vote of confidence, it would replace Najib
Miqati’s current resigned government as the caretaker cabinet.
Reports have emerged that Suleiman will act to support the formation of a
fait accompli cabinet against March 8’s wishes.
On Wednesday, Lebanon’s president voiced the urgency of forming a
government ahead of the constitutionally-mandated start of the March 25
parliamentary preparations for the presidential elections.
He also hinted that he would support a neutral cabinet, which March 8
parties reject, asking, “why is it said that a political cabinet is an inclusive
one?”
Hezbollah, the Amal Movement and the Progressive Socialist Party have all
voiced support for a cabinet that would give nine ministers each to the
March 8 and March 14 alliances while centrists would hold six seats.
However, the March 14 alliance rejects the proposal amid the deepening
political deadlock in Lebanon that has seen the country go nine months
without the formation of a cabinet following Najib Miqati’s resignation as
premier.
Meanwhile, the debate concerning the presidential elections has gained
pace recently, with Suleiman announcing, on several occasions, that he is
against the extension of his term, which expires in May 2014.
Lebanese president sets deadline
to form new government
http://bit.ly/19NjttP
BEIRUT - President Michel Suleiman on Wednesday said that a new
cabinet must be formed by March 25, the constitutionally mandated
beginning of the presidential election period.
“It is necessary to form a government... March 25 is a red line,” he said in a
press conference following his meeting in Bkirki with Maronite Patriarch
Bechara Boutros al-Rai.
"We must form a government and set its ministerial statement, which
requires at least a month of work," the president added.
“There is no link between the [upcoming] Geneva II peace conference and
the formation of a government in Lebanon," Suleiman said in reference to
press reports linking the resolution of the country's political impasse to a
diplomatic breakthrough on the Syrian conflict.
He also questioned the March 8 alliance’s call for a political cabinet, asking,
“Are politicians the ones who bring together the nation?”
“Why is it said that a political cabinet is an inclusive one,” the president
added in the press conference.
Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam is struggling to achieve the
formation of his cabinet, nine months after the resignation of caretaker PM
Najib Miqati. He has cited the pre-conditions imposed by the opposing
March 14 and March 8 blocs as a reason behind the delays in the process.
Hezbollah and the March 8 bloc back the 9-9-6 government proposal,
which calls for the March 8 and 14 alliances to receive nine ministers each,
while centrists would hold six seats in the cabinet. March 14 parties have
rejected the proposal.
March 8 parties, in turn, have rejected the notion of a fait accompli cabinet,
which could be formed by Suleiman and Salam without the consensus of
the country’s political parties.
Meanwhile, the debate concerning the presidential elections has gained
pace recently, with Suleiman announcing, on several occasions, that he is
against the extension of his term, which expires in May 2014.
L’Orient Le Jour
Appels tous azimuts à la formation d'un gouvernement
http://bit.ly/1cqiLU2
Le président Michel Sleiman, dont le mandat expire le 25 mai, a souligné
mercredi la nécessité de former un nouveau gouvernement avant le 25
mars, marquant le début de la période constitutionnelle pour l'élection d'un
chef de l'Etat.
"Faire fi de l'alternance au pouvoir portera atteinte à la démocratie", a
déclaré M. Sleiman à l'issue d'un entretien à Bkerké avec le patriarche
maronite Mgr Béchara Raï à l'occasion de Noël.
"Je privilégierai l'intérêt du Liban. Nous devons former un nouveau
gouvernement et préparer une déclaration ministérielle et cela nécessite au
moins un mois", a-t-il ajouté, interrogé par les journalistes sur ses
intentions avant l'expiration de son mandat.
Concernant les négociations sur la formation d'un gouvernement, M.
Sleiman a indiqué : "Nous avons une démocratie et une Constitution. Elles
seules peuvent déterminer l'avenir du Liban".
Geagea à Bkerké
De son côté, le chef des Forces libanaises (FL), Samir Geagea, a affirmé
que les pourparlers se poursuivaient pour mettre un terme à l'impasse
politique au Liban, estimant que la formule gouvernementale 9-9-6 prônée
par le 8 Mars paralyserait le pays.
"Notre position concernant le gouvernement est claire. Ils nous donnent
des leçons sur l'unité nationale lorsqu'il est question de former un
gouvernement et ils oublient le partenariat et l'union nationale quand ils
s'engagent dans les combats en Syrie, a déclaré M. Geagea après avoir
été reçu par Mgr Raï à Bkerké. Il est temps que la présidence retrouve son
rôle, qui a été marginalisé durant les 23 dernières années. Il faut
redynamiser la vie constitutionnelle", a-t-il dit.
Le patriarche maronite a réitéré pour sa part durant son homélie à
l'occasion de Noël ses appels à former un nouveau gouvernement qui aura
pour tâche de superviser la prochaine élection présidentielle.
Enfin, le métropolite grec-orthodoxe de Beyrouth, Mgr Elias Audi, a exhorté
les responsables politiques à renouer le dialogue entre eux. "Le pays
risque de s'effondrer si nous ne trouvons pas un consensus", a-t-il estimé
lors de son homélie à l'occasion de Noël.