Suleiman to Give 8-8-8 Cabinet a Chance, Does Not Rule Out Neutral Govt

President Michel Suleiman agreed on Tuesday to give a chance to discuss the 8-8-8 cabinet lineup but did not commit to ruling out forming a neutral council of ministers.

Suleiman's stances came in a meeting with the adviser of Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Hussein Khalil, and Caretaker Health Minister Ali Hassan Khalil, who's the political adviser to Speaker Nabih Berri.

According to al-Manar television, the advisers urged Suleiman to form a political cabinet that includes representatives of all political factions.

"Holding the presidential elections on time is not certain and the cabinet would be a reassuring factor instead,” they explained.

Suleiman answered that he does not favor a standoff in the country, reminding them that he had signed a one-sided cabinet before, which was headed by caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati.

"Different circumstances prevailed back then and the head of state was a guarantee since he had two more years before his mandate comes to an end,” they replied.

Suleiman responded by saying he will exert all needed efforts to form an all-encompassing council of ministers.

The advisers then asked the president to commit to his words, but he refused, explaining that the March 14 coalition might insist that it will not take part in such a cabinet.

Suleiman then suggested discussing the 8-8-8 formula for the cabinet, which had been proposed by Berri.

Source close to the president told LBCI television that Suleiman will give the 8-8-8 formula a chance, but that “it will not be an open-ended discussion as the country cannot be left without a cabinet.”

Meanwhile, al-Manar reported that Suleiman's adviser, former minister Khalil Hrawi, met with al-Mustaqbal bloc head Fouad Saniora and United States Ambassador to Lebanon David Hale in a hotel in Beirut.

"The U.S. does not recommend a de facto cabinet,” al-Manar said.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat told the television channel that efforts are still being exerted to form a cabinet, remarking that “once a decision is made, it will be announced immediately.”

"Jumblat is communicating with PM-designate Tammam Salam, former premier Saad Hariri and Saniora and is waiting for their and Saudi Arabia's response to a 8-8-8 cabinet,” LBCI said.

The same source also said that the March 14 coalition will soon announce its stance regarding whether it would take part or not in a cabinet in which Hizbullah has ministers, after head of Hariri's office Nader Hariri met with the former premier in Saudi Arabia.

MTV reported that the latest talks on the cabinet's formation did not tackle any names, and that the discussion is now focused on the concept of rotation of ministries.

Despite the positive atmosphere surrounding the issue, there is nothing confirmed until now and Suleiman might go back to forming a nonpolitical cabinet, according to MTV.

Later in the evening, information obtained by LBCI noted that a cabinet formula based on the 8-8-8 lineup has become ready and it includes both politicians and technocrats.

"The proposal is awaiting ex-PM Hariri's approval," LBCI said.

In a televised speech he delivered at the Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture in Beirut on Monday, the head of the state asked: “Should we fail to form an all-embracing political cabinet, don't people have the right to contribute to the formation of a neutral government? In the absence of consensus on an inclusive cabinet, do we have to stay without a cabinet?”

“Is an agreement on a cabinet equivalent to national agreement? Don't the nonpartisan Lebanese have the right to contribute to the rise of the country and would these people undermine national unity?” the president added.