LF denies seeking to 'defeat FPM' by asking for energy portfolio
The Lebanese Forces on Tuesday denied a media report claiming that it is seeking to be allotted the energy portfolio in the new government in order to “defeat the Free Patriotic Movement.”
“This report is totally baseless, because the LF has never demanded the energy portfolio and is not negotiating on the basis of defeating or supporting anyone, but rather on the basis of the higher national interest, which requires moving forward with the (president’s) inaugural address and the (prime minister-designate’s) appointment speech,” the LF said.
“A coup was staged against the real state 34 years ago and this state can only rise upon the foundations of the constitution, the law and equality,” the LF added.
Al-Akhbar newspaper reported Tuesday that the Lebanese Forces has demanded to be allotted the energy and foreign affairs portfolios in the new cabinet and that Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil has asked to retain the energy portfolio for his movement.
Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam, who met with Bassil over the past two days, rejected the FPM chief’s request and did not deny that he intends to allocate it to the LF, al-Akhbar said.
Informed sources meanwhile told the daily that Salam is “thinking of giving the energy portfolio to the Sunni community to avoid a problem between the Christian forces over it.”
“He would name a figure with expertise to it while granting the FPM the telecommunications portfolio to avoid any threat to boycott the cabinet,” the sources added.
Salam has not also taken a final decision regarding the foreign affairs portfolio, with reports saying that he wants to give it to someone who has diplomatic expertise.
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