Aridi: New Govt. Lacking Major Political Power Would Not Be Viable

Caretaker Transportation and Public Works Minister Ghazi al-Aridi stressed the need for the participation of all political powers in a new government, reported the daily An Nahar Sunday.

He told the daily: “A new government that does not include a major Lebanese political power will not be viable.”

He made his remarks in reference to the demands of the March 14 camp that Hizbullah not be included in a new cabinet given its involvement in the fighting in Syria alongside the country's regime.

“The party will not return from the fighting in Syria,” he declared.

“Given this reality and the other camp's conditions, I do not foresee the formation of a new cabinet,” said the minister.

“Failure to include a major power in the government will not yield a solution to the political deadlock in Lebanon, but it will create a new crisis,” Aridi noted.

“We do not agree with Hizbullah's condition or those of the other camp,” he added.

He therefore revealed that efforts are underway in order to bridge the differences between the rival powers.

The March 8 camp has been demanding that it be granted veto power in a new cabinet.

This request, which has been a main obstacle in the government formation process, has been repeatedly rejected by Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam.

He explained that a government that includes such a power would render it ineffective.

On Saturday, President Michel Suleiman met with Salam at the Baabda Palace to discuss the formation of a new government.

The premier-designate stressed that he is still keen on the establishment of a 24-minister cabinet that grants each of the three political blocs eight ministers.