The entrusted Prime Minister, Mr. Rafiq Al-Hariri, ended yesterday his consultations to form a new government, and informed President Al-Hrawi of the results of his discussions.
In fact, President Al-Hariri started, on Saturday evening, by meeting President Berreh, then president Hossein El-Husseini, who insisted on having a government capable of carrying the country out of the abnormal situation, and which would gain public confidence.
Speaking on behalf of the Bloc of Liberation and Development, deputy Ahmed Soueid declared the bloc would rather have a completely parliamentary government, dealing with social and educational as a priority. He added the bloc asked for 6 portfolios, including either Education, Culture, or Technical Education . Deputy Khatechik Babekyan insisted on a wider participation of Beirut deputies in the next Cabinet while deputy Jamil Shammas, representing the country minorities, asked for a portfolio.
Deputy Chaker Abou Soleiman noted that the Bloc of El-Matn Deputies would prefer a parliamentary government, and asked to handle the social issue first and foremost, while deputy Isam Faes called a Cabinet in which all Lebanese regions would be represented.
Minister Walid Jounblat spoke on behalf of the Strife Bloc and declared he proposed a program concerning the media, administration, taxes and freedom issues.
Deputy Marwan Fares, speaking on behalf of the Bloc of Syrian Socialist and Nationalist Party Deputies, said the bloc discussed with president Al-Hariri the next government programs.
Minister Elie Hobeika claimed a portfolio for Al-Wahd Bloc and deputy Tamam Salam reaffirmed the importance of the reconstruction process, asking for a strong and harmonious government. Deputy Mohammad yousef Baydoun pointed, on the other hand that his talks were about the administrative situation, while deputy Talal Erslan insisted on keeping up the previous achievements, and forgetting the past, and deputy Elias Skaf prompted the next cabinet to play a role on the social level.
Deputy Asem Qanso, on behalf of Al-Bahth Party Bloc, asked for a portfolio, while the vice-president of the parliament, Mr Elie El-Ferezli called for a mostly parliamentary government, and to handle the administrative and social issues. The Bloc of Bekaa Deputies, represented by deputy Khalil Al-Hrawi, as well as deputy Basem Sabeh, wished the next Cabinet would be as parliamentary as possible. Deputy Wajih El-Baarini suggested the new government would deal with the social crisis and reinforce agriculture, industry and commerce.
Deputies Talal El-Morhbi and Mahmoud Awad asked each for portfolios . Speaking on behalf of the bloc of development and changing, deputy Ahmed Karameh called for a parliamentary cabinet, and deputies Fares Bweiz and Elias El-Khazen for a government capable of handling the social-crisis.
Deputy Boutros Harb insisted on enforcing the role of control Institutions, and deputy Mosbah Al-Ahdab on dealing with the social issue in the first place.
Deputy Fawzi Hobeich claimed a greater interest in farmers issues, especially in Akkar and the Bekaa regions, while deputy Qabalan Isa El-Khoury demanded equal development.
On behalf of the Bloc of North Deputies, deputy Soleiman Franjieh claimed 7 portfolios for the northern region, among which 2 or 3 of the main ones.
Deputy Mohammad Kebbarah asked the new government to make social and living issues a priority, while deputies Sabeh Al-Khayr and Jihad Assamad called for a parliamentary Cabinet.
Deputy Abd Errahim Mourad reaffirmed the necessity of administrative reform, and deputy Nohad Said claimed a portfolio for Byblos.
Deputies Rachid El-Kazen and Nassib Lahoud were also received by president Al-Hariri, El-Khazen asked for a parliamentary cabinet, while Lahoud prompted it to reinforce democracy.
Deputy Mansour Ghanem El-Bonn gave some suggestions about the social and living crises, and deputy Camil Ziadeh suggested the new government would be mostly parliamentary. Deputy Pierre Dakkach called for a government of national consensus. President Al-Hariri also met with members of the Bloc of Resistance, on behalf of which deputy Ibrahim Amin Assayyed declared the meeting was to evaluate the previous period.
Deputy Nayla Moawad insisted on developing the political regime and enforcing democracy, and finally deputy Jean Obeid called for a government of national consensus.
Before starting his consultations to form the new government, the entrusted Prime Minister visited on Saturday morning, the ex-Prime Ministers.
He first went to see president Saeb Salam, at Mosaitbeh, then visited president Amin El-Hafez, in his house at Bir Hassan. At About 9:30 A.M. he went to visit President Selim El-Hoss, and finally met with president Chafic Al-Wazzan, in his house at Talet El-Khayat.
Al-Hariri made these visits to ask the Prime Ministers their opinions about the constitution of the new government .
On Sunday the holy mass was celebrated in Bkerkeh, by the Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir, and attended by deputy Pierre Dakkach and the vice-president of the General Maronite Council, Sheikh Wadih El-Khazen.
In his sermon, the Patriarch prompted the adoption of forgiveness mercy and love, as essential values of personal and social life. He also pointed that there is no democracy without constructive opposition.
After the holy mass, Sfeir received deputy Pierre Dakkach, the vice-president of the phalanges party, attorney Mounir El-Hajj, besides heads of Students Bodies in the second branch of the Lebanese University who complained about incorporating by force different branches of the Lebanese University in one place, and asked the patriarch to intervene. Sfeir promised to help them.
He also received a delegation of dislodged people who returned to their villages in chouf region.
At the end of the fourth period of the Lebanese football championship, Al-Ansar ranked first, and Al-Homenmen second.
Yesterday matches ended the fourth period of this season series, and results were as following:
1-Annejmeh v/s Assafa (1-0) (at Tripoli local stadium)
2-Al-Akha-Aley v/s Al-Homentmen (1-1) (at Assafa stadium, Wata Mosaitbi)
3-Chabab Assahel v/s Al-Ansar (2-0) (at Bourj Hammoud stadium )
4-Achabiba v/s Al-Homenmen (2-0) (at Assafa Stadium, Wata Mosaitbi)
5-Attadamoun-Tyre v/s Racing (1-0) (at Saida local stadium)
6-Al-Hekmeh v/s Al-Bourj (3-1) (at Jamal Abd Ennaser stadium, Bekaa)
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