The fate of a parliamentary session scheduled to be held on Wednesday to discuss a new electoral draft-law is unclear over the lack of final stances on the participation of two blocs from the March 14 alliance.

The Phalange and the Lebanese Forces are emerging the major players in guaranteeing a needed quorum of 65 MPs for the session.

The ties between Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat and Hizbullah has deteriorated over the controversial dispute over the formation of the cabinet, media reports said on Tuesday.

Sources close to Jumblat told al-Liwaa newspaper that consultations are ongoing to reach common ground over the distribution of portfolios and to grant the March 8 alliance further guarantees over the matter.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat slammed on Monday the criticism directed against him by some members of the March 8 camp, saying that he will not get embroiled in “pointless debates” with them over the formation of a new government.

He said in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anba website: “The cabinet that grants eight ministers to the March 8, March 14, and centrist blocs offers the best representation and avoids schemes to obstruct political life in Lebanon.”

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam reiterated on Monday his keenness to achieve national interests in his mission to form a new government.

He said after holding talks with Speaker Nabih Berri: “I hope that the new cabinet pleases all political powers.”

Several parliamentary blocs announced on Monday that they will boycott the parliamentary session on May 15 as the parliament's general-secretariat placed only the so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal on the agenda of legislative rounds set to begin this week.

"Al Mustaqbal bloc, the National Struggle Front, caretaker premier Miqati and independent MPs will boycott the parliamentary session dedicated to discuss the Orthodox draft on May 15," Future television reported.

Caretaker Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour stressed on Monday that Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat is keen on maintaining contacts aimed at forming a new government.

He said after meeting Speaker Nabih Berri: “Jumblat is keen on maintaining consultations with Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam, President Michel Suleiman, and all sides to reach an agreement over a new government, which will help avert numerous repercussions.”

President Michel Suleiman could postpone signing a decree on the new government line-up that Premier-designate Tammam Salam allegedly intends to announce this week, presidential sources said.

The sources told An Nahar daily published Monday that Suleiman, who “is a partner in the cabinet formation process” and has taken the oath “to preserve the Constitution and the country's security,” would postpone the signature if he saw that the circumstances were not ripe.

Speaker Nabih Berri warned on Monday of the announcement of a de facto government ahead of the scheduled parliamentary session, pointing out that he aims at reaching consensus with the different parliamentary blocs and ending confrontation over the new electoral law.

“The announcement of a de facto cabinet ahead of Wednesday's parliamentary session will have negative repercussions on it and will end the possibility of reaching consensus over a new electoral law,” Berri said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam reiterated on Sunday that he is seeking to form a cabinet of national interest.

He also refused to set a date to announce the new government.

Deputy Speaker Farid Makari doubted that parliament will succeed in reaching an agreement over a new parliamentary electoral law during its upcoming session on Wednesday, reported the daily An Nahar Sunday.

He told the daily that the failure will prompt the extension of the current parliament's term for six months.