Report: How a Govt. Lineup Draft Will Distribute Portfolios

Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri’s faces a tough task to lineup a new government in light of “inflexible” stances of political parties and their wrangling over Cabinet shares and ministerial portfolios.

Al-Joumhouria daily reported on Wednesday that a draft government lineup will reportedly grant three ministerial portfolios for AMAL Movement's leader, Speaker Nabih Berri which will include the portfolios of finance, youth and sports, and administrative development.

Meanwhile, Hizbullah would allocate the ministries of health, economy and trade and the state ministry for parliamentary affairs.

On the other hand, al-Mustaqbal Movement would get the ministries of interior and telecommunications as part of its share, said the daily.

A “large share”, said al-Joumhouria, would be given to the Free Patriotic Movement and the President (FPM founder). It would include the ministries of foreign affairs, defense, justice, environment, economy, ministry of state for presidential affairs, ministry of state for planning affairs, ministry of state to combat corruption.

It is noteworthy that said draft excludes the Progressive Socialist Party of MP Walid Jumblat who was a partner in the previous governments, added the daily.

Hizbullah has reportedly stressed it won’t waiver any part of its ministerial share.

Discussions among senior officials and political parties regarding the government formation intensified in the past hours.