Aoun Hairiri agreement for a new Lebanese government

by Youssef Hourany

After the Hezbollah attack on the Israeli border, the UN Security Council has renewed its invitation to Beirut to extend its control over the entire territory

Beirut (AsiaNews) An alliance between Michel Aoun and Saad Hariri may allow Lebanon to form its first free government following the withdrawal of Syrian troops. Relations between Aoun and Hariri are now improved after a cold war in recent weeks. Meanwhile the trench warfare between Aoun and the Druze leader Walid Joumblatt continues.

However, improved relations between the leader of the Future party (Hariri) and the man heading the Free Patriotic Movement (Aoun) do not seem to embrace those closely linked to their electoral campaigns. "I appreciate Saad Hariri but not those who gravitate around him," Aoun told AsiaNews. Meeting journalists before participating in parliamentary consultations in the Baabda palace, Aoun highlighted the availability of his 21 (out of 128) MPs to form a government of national unity led by the former finance minister, Fouad Senioura, who was nominated by 126 MPs. This would seem to be a confirmation of political desire to converge with Hariri.

Both Aoun and Hariri have had political meetings: Aoun welcomed Ghattas Khoury, old MP for Beirut while Saad Hairiri visited Joumblatt. Even if Khoury did not want to supply details, it appears there are problems to form a government, especially regarding the justice ministry. Aoun would want this ministry to go to one of his men, perhaps the former president of the forensic college Chakib Kortbawi (Aoun is fighting so ministers will not be chosen from among parliamentarians); however this proposal does not seem to enjoy the backing of Hariri's group. This majority party would want this portfolio, as they do the finance and internal affairs ones. Aoun would be happy to see "reformist" ministers in place in information, water and energy sectors, as well as in youth, sport and administrative reform, while the post of foreign affairs should be filled by Nassib Lahoud.

Today, meanwhile, after yesterday's attacks by Hezbollah on the Israeli border, the UN Security Council renewed its recommendation to the Lebanese government to "extend its control over the entire territory", to dismantle the militias and to "put an end to any armed attack coming from its territory".