Report: Jumblat Seeks to Reach Consensus over New Candidate to Premiership
Centrist Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat is exerting efforts to reach consensus among foes over the formation of the new cabinet and the name of the candidate to the premiership, media reports said on Thursday.
Sources close to Jumblat said in comments published in An Nahar newspaper that the rival March 8 and 14 alliances are intensifying talks over the formation of the government to resolve the dispute.
The Druze leader is seeking to become a mediator between the arch-foes to reach common ground, he held on Wednesday night talks with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati at the Grand Serail, according to al-Liwaa newspaper.
Consultations to form a new cabinet are expected to kick off soon under the auspices of President Michel Suleiman, who recently returned from Doha where he attended the Arab Summit, after Miqati announced the resignation of his government last week.
Jumblat also contacted Speaker Nabih Berri, ex-PM Saad Hariri, head of al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc MP Fouad Saniora and discussed with the officials the name of the upcoming premier and the nature of the cabinet to be formed.
Sources close to the March 8 alliance told al-Liwaa that Jumblat is marketing the nomination of Miqati to the premiership and discussed the issue with Berri, who in turn voiced his support.
“All parties are looking for a consensual candidate for the premiership,” the sources said.
The sources pointed out that although the rival parties are keen to reach consensus over the name of the candidate, however, they have failed so far to reach a settlement.
Miqati's resignation came in light of sharp differences among ministers on the extension of the term of Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi and the establishment of the authority that would oversee the elections.
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