Lebanon’s Aoun, Hariri Exchange Accusations on Cabinet Deadlock

President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri exchanged accusations Friday on the stalemate in the formation of the new government.
The war of words signals further
paralysis.
The accusations began Friday after
the presidency issued a statement saying the president did not ask for veto
power in the new government.
“Allegations abound that the head of the strong
Lebanon bloc, MP Gebran Bassil, is impeding the formation of the government,
while reality confirms that Bassil has not engage in the process,” the
statement said.
Bassil is Aoun’s son-in-law.
The presidency also refuted claims
that Hezbollah interfered in Aoun’s decisions, including the formation of the
government.
It noted that concerning the
process of choosing ministers, naming them and distributing ministerial
portfolios, is not the exclusive right of the prime minister. “The president
has the constitutional right to approve the cabinet formation before signing
the decree,” the statement said.
It called on the Prime
Minister-designate to head to Baabda Palace to bring his lineup, which takes
into account fair representation in line with the provisions of the
constitution.
Sources close to Hariri said,
however, that the presidency insists on forming a government based on Bassil’s
criteria.
“Hariri’s position towards the cabinet formation has not changed. He wants a government based on the constitution and respecting national unity and the French initiative,” they said.