Jumblat to Head to Riyadh over Cabinet Deadlock, Backs Equal Distribution of Portfolios
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat is expected to head to Saudi Arabia capital soon to discuss the cabinet crisis, An Nahar newspaper reported on Tuesday.
According to the daily, Jumblat will discuss the cabinet standstill amid reports that he voiced support Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam's efforts to equally distribute portfolios among the March 14 coalition, the March 8 alliance and the centrists, whereby each would be represented by eight ministers.
Salam is seeking to form a 24-minister cabinet that distributes portfolios equally between the centrists, March 8 and 14 forces, rejecting to grant the veto power to any of the camps.
Meanwhile, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported that contacts are ongoing between Jumblat and al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri over the matter.
Following the resignation of Premier Najib Miqati's cabinet in March, Salam was designated to line up a cabinet, amid conflicting positions between the March 14 alliance that demands forming an impartial cabinet, the March 8 forces insisting on forming a political one, and Jumblat's objection to a cabinet that does not represent all Lebanese factions.
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