Aoun wreaks havoc! His bloc met today in Rabieh and announced their disapproval of Seniora's move to include 30 Ministers in his government lineup and his breaking the promises he made to them with regards to representation.
Aoun claimed that he asked for four representatives based on a 24-member government and if it has increased to 30, then he asks for five. Morever, he was given 4 representatives, two with Ministerial portfolios (Justice and Environment) and two State Ministers (without portfolios). Aoun is demanding all four (or five) to have portfolios.
When asked whether it is advisable to let go at this sensitive juncture of our history, he claimed that the majority is the entity that should provide concessions. He further added that in his mind he sees three major partners in the government: the Hizbullah/Amal bloc, his bloc, and Hariri's bloc. (He completely obliterated Qornet Shehwan/Lebanese Forces and Jumblatt's bloc.)
He believes that this move to increase the government members to 30 is based on distrust.
The majority, even before President Lahoud and the Maronite Archbishop Council put out their official statement, was pushing for a "National Unity" government to face the major contentious issues ahead of our country; hence Hariri's visit to Aoun a couple of weeks back. My question is: isn't the majority allowed to have at least one or two extra Ministers so it could facilitate moving forward its policies and initiatives? Isn't it a right, or not? Or do we want to go back to the olden days when initiatives were blocked by Lahoud's bloc and we did not achieve anything, except more negative economic growth and political backwardness?
Moreover, the confusion is arising from oscillating between talking about sectarian representation versus representation based on political backing. So, Seniora yesterday submitted a lineup of 10 Maronites, 10 Sunnis, 10 Shiites, 4 Orthodox, 3 Catholics, 3 Druze, and 2 Armenians (sectarian-wise, there is equitable representation). Further, there was an issue with finding a Shiite to assume the Foreign Minister position (it had to be a Shiite, HA/Amal said). The other issue was a Maronite represenation one, where when Aoun's bloc opted out of joining the government, talks were rampant about the absent and lacking Maronite reprentation in the government. Seniora brought back Aoun, gave him the Justice, and Hizbullah got a Shiite in the Foreign Ministry.
But then over this sectarian layer, you have a political backing layer, like when Aoun demands 5 of the Ministers to be from his bloc, or when Hizbullah/Amal are upset that the sixth Shiite representative is not from their bloc, but from the Future's. Seniora moves from one set of obstacles to another.
Now in your mind, you think Lahoud will say "YES!"? Of course not!
Is Seniora that off-course? I've never been an avid supporter of Seniora, but what I've seen from him the past 12 days since he was voted in as the Prime Minister-elect is a person who is working diligently and positively to overcome the obstacles.
Will Seniora make it? Will Lebanon make it? That is the question.
"Nobody knows how many rebellions, besides political rebellions, ferment in the masses of life which people earth."
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8 comments:
i don't like aoun, but what saniora did is pretty low. they agree on 4 ministers with portfolios out of 24. then give them 2 with portfolios and 2 without out of 30, without any kind of consultation whatsoever?? this is ridiculous.
Actually, I sort of agree with Firas. Why are we focusing so much on Der Generale, Aon. In the grand scheme of things, he is no more significant or successful than George Costanza.
-F
No one is ever transparent and clear. Especially in politics. Aoun is no exception.
Doha, your headlines are becoming to sound more and more like the crap english used on Naharnet.com. "Aound wreaks havoc"? where did that come from? if you made a deal with someone and they smiled and shook your hand then came back the next day with the opposite of what you had agreed on, would you just accept it?? come on, lighten up. Firas's points are correct, there is no point for Aoun to join the government just to give it a "national consensus" stamp, while in reality and effectively it is a majority government. If Seniora wants a majority government, let him not try to include others.
aoun's problem is though, that he is stuck between a hammer and a hard place, he is given a carrot, and he likes it, so he comes out all positive, only to find they threw a bone at him. he barks back, and he is immediately treated as the barbaric one, especially with lahoud using him as an excuse to mess up the government creation, and sfeir pushing for a "unity government". is joumblat even better than we all thought at playing hariri's fingers on aoun's buttons?
the other and much more crucial problem is that *nothing* can check what happens in a lebanon governed by a majority government given a carte blanche by a legislative majority. true we want and need change and reforms and a quick and effective executive government, but previous hariri governments with more or less carte blanche have done some irreversible damage to the country. let's not be too naive in thinking that the hariri business empire will suddenly understand the required differentiation between public money and private money, and that all private agendas and interests will suddenly stop playing a major role in their decisions.
i had major praise for hariri's and seniora's open stance of the last few weeks, but this stunt they tried to pull was incredibly foolish, and it really does nothing to uphold confidence of the other political players.
think about it before you swallow the propaganda hook, line, and sinker.
Aoun wants 15% of any government.
Lahoud want 1/3
HZ/Amal want 1/3
Fine, let them form a government! I blame Hariri and co, they are loaded and they should just say F%$%k it, cash their investement in Lebanon and move to Paris. Koreitem can be donated to herr general..
Doha, last anon,
My 2 cents: Siniora, should state that he could not form a national union gvmt. I guess he is going to recuse himself Thursday morning according to L'Orient.
I would have rather he formed a Hariri majority gvmt., with express number-one priority the security situation, and number-two the Syrian border situation. Leave the other issues for later. Announce the names of the ministers, and leave it to Lahoud to refuse and bear the consequences.
Sinoura had to increase the numbers so Murr and Rizk can be in the cabinet to pacify Lahoud. It was a hail Mary pass. Aoun is being unreasonable, why is it that FM and co. always have to give and give.. They have 75 MP out of 125, in any democratic country that is a majority and they can form a government. Lahoud should have have been pushed after March 14th. I blame Sfeir, , he is the cause of this mess!
A national unity governement means that all parties at least in the parliement must be in the government.
So for all of you guys who know how to write, you should know al least how to calculate... think how Aoun should get, how Amal/HA should get...else the majority have to form the government like any democratic country (but i think still it's difficult due to the importance of issues the government have to deal with and our blocs are divided through their confession).
It is not a big cake and you are taking a share and you got a small one , but it s ok cause you will eat something else later..it's a country , it is a matter of justice, equality and...
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