The Bomb Is In The Mix!

I'm aware the Seniora list of proposed Ministers is out, but I wanted to share the list on the blogosphere so we could be able to discuss openly the merits and shortcomings of Seniora's picks.

1. Fouad Seniora: Prime Minister, FM ally, Sunni
2. Fouad Boutros: Deputy of PM and Foreign Minister, Independent, Greek Orthodox
3. Tarek Mitri: State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Independent, Greek Orthodox
4. MP Bahij Tabbara: Justice, FM, Sunni
5. Jihad Azour: Finance, Independent, Maronite, Seniora's financial advisor
6. MP Yassin Jaber: Defense, Amal, Shiite
7. MP Marwan Hamade: Interior, PSP, Druze
8. MP Nayla Moawwad: Economy, QS, Maronite
9. Sami Haddad: Telecommunications, Independent, Minorities, World Bank employee
10. MP Ghazi Youssef: Energy, FM, Shiite
11. MP Michel Pharaoun: Industry, FM, Catholic
12. MP Mohammad Safadi: Public Works, FM ally, Sunni
13. MP Mohammad Khalifa: Health, Amal, Shiite
14. Trad Hamadeh: Labor, Hizbullah, Shiite
15. Joe Sarkis: Tourism, LF, Maronite
16. Ghattas Khoury: Education, FM, Maronite
17. A fifth Shiite unnamed figure from Hizbullah for Agriculture
18. MP Ahmad Fatfat: Information, FM, Sunni
19. MP Ghazi Aridi: Culture, PSP, Druze
20. MP Hagop Demerdjian: Environment, FM, Armenian
21. Khaled Kabbani: Social Affairs, FM, Sunni
22. MP Nihmeh Tohmeh: Displaced, PSP, Catholic
23. MP Pierre Gemayel: Youth & Sports, QS and Katayib Corrective Movement, Maronite
24. George Osseili: Administrative Reform, Independent, Greek Orthodox

I have some comments to share on this proposed mix:

Half of the ministers are non-MPs and technocrats, including Seniora which is a genuine move away from the usual very-politicized Cabinet.

Seniora has shown steadfastness in refusing Hizbullah-Amal demand to hijack the Foreign portfolio. I am impressed he ensured that the position went to an independent and to someone who has the credits and merits to carry such a delicate portfolio. By picking an independent, he has moved this portfolio away from any parochial interference. He stood in their way, and appeased them by giving them the Defense and showed a genuine commitment for breaking away from the past. However, it doesn't seem that easy, HA-Amal are heard not accepting the appeasement move and want the Foreign portfolio at all costs. Way to go!

The Labor ministry goes again to Trad Hamadeh of Hizbullah. I must confess that in our country labor policy and workforce development is a non-issue, unfortunately. When will this portfolio be given the importance of the Economy? On another level, Trad Hamadeh before leaving the past government signed in a bill to allow Palestinian refugees to assume certain jobs in Lebanon. I have a feeling that as much as the labor portfolio is a non-issue for many, it is an important policy tool for Hizbullah.

It's interesting having Nayla Moawwad as an Economy Minister. Her background is not economics- or trade-related. It is definitely a political seat. I know for a fact that the Ministry's staff are competent and have many bright initiatives ready to be signed off; I believe that Moawwad will be a facilitator and not a blocker.

After reading the news today (and more than just Al-Nahar and Al-Mustaqbal), I must confess that the talk about Maronites getting the "leftovers" of ministerial positions is nonsensical. Moawwad of QS has the Economy, Jihad Azour has the Finance, and Joe Sarkis has the Tourism (and Tourism is not leftovers, unless we think that of tourism in our country).

Yesterday in Al-Balad, Toni Francis wrote that if Hariri did not think it advisable to have a government that includes everyone and did not enforce his movement's "Open Hand" policy toward Aoun (which Francis thinks that he could've settled for forming a majority government), it wouldn't have looked as bad now that Aoun decided to pull out.

Moreover, the HA-Amal "bomb" alliance have claimed to be upset that FM has taken 10 seats in the government as opposed to only five for them, especially that they garnered 31 seats in the Parliament (not that far from FM's 36 seats).

What remains to be seen is President Lahoud's take on this mix. He already sent Seniora back home to rethink his proposal, perhaps to add more of Lahoud's men on the list (Elias Murr missing?!). It's up to Lahoud now to either agree to a majority government or stall the process until a "national representative" government is set in place.

What remains to be seen as well is FM-Siniora's decision to either push forward with their mix and face the possibility of hurting their ties with HA-Amal (which probably won't be a pretty sight, knowing that Berri is the Speaker for at least another two years) or give in to their demands, which in reality they have the right to based on their popular support depicted in the number of seats they garnered in Parliament, which overshadows any other factions' demands, and puts FM and HA-Amal as the two contenders right now for making or breaking the government mix approval (of course after Lahoud's blessing.)

"Nobody knows how many rebellions, besides political rebellions, ferment in the masses of life which people earth."