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‘Hariri is not delaying formation of Lebanon government’

January 8, 2019 at 12:32 pm

Saad Hariri speaks at a press conference in Beirut, Lebanon on 21 November 2017 [Stringer/Apaimages]

Mufti of Mount Lebanon Sheikh Mohamad Ali Al-Jozo yesterday stressed that Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri has never been an obstacle ahead of forming a Lebanese government, Egypt’s official news agency reported.

Hariri, according to Al-Jozo, has always offered initiatives to find solutions to the crises which lie ahead of the formation of the coalition of the Lebanese government since he was designated to carry out this mission.

The Mufti’s remarks came in the wake of a crisis which erupted between six independent Sunni MPs from the March 8 faction, which is an ally to Hezbollah.

“It is not true that the reason of the current political crisis is Hezbollah’s defence of the six independent Sunni MPs,” the Mufti said, “the real reason is political rivalries.”

“Lebanon will not stand up again while the sectarian mindset is dominating everything,” the Mufti said, warning of moving the country towards “a blind sectarian sedition which has no relation with politics.”

Hariri was appointed to formulate the Lebanese government on 23 May after the parliamentary elections, but political disputes have delayed the mission.

Earlier this week a source told the Anadolu Agency that the final obstacle to forming a government is that Hezbollah insists that the six Sunni deputies who oppose Hariri’s Future movement be represented through one cabinet seat.

The source pointed out that several proposals were put forward in order to solve the Sunni representation issue including raising the number of cabinet seats from 30 to 36 ministers.

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A parliamentary source in the Future movement said the party adheres to its ministerial quota and will not give up one of its seats to the Sunni deputies aligned with Hezbollah.

The source stressed that Hariri is working with all parties to find a solution, but not at the expense of political imbalance in the country.