Inside Lebanon’s ruling majority, Kataeb is unsatisfied and threatens to quit new cabinet. Hizbollah warns “not to touch” the previous government’s agreement on its weapons, but UN envoy calls for the implementation of Resolution 1701 and Hizbollah’s disarmament.

Beirut (AsiaNews) – Yesterday’s protocol picture marked the advent of Saad Hariri's government after 135 days of crisis. The winner of the 7 June election was able to form a government of national unity, with support of all the parties, based on the 15+10+5 formula: 15 ministers from Hariri's bloc, 10 from the opposition, and the remaining five appointed by President Michel Suleiman (pictured, left with Hariri), including the holders of the key interior and defence portfolios. The president is now a key factor in the country’s balance of power.

“This government,” said the new prime minister, “reflects today’s Lebanon. To some, it might appear as the embodiment of our confessional and political divisions, but we must show the entire world that, to the eyes of the Lebanese, it is the very image of national entente.”

As a sign of the hurdles to come, the new cabinet faced one only last night when Hariri and Suleiman himself had to intervene to mollify the anger of Amin Gemayel. The leader of the Kataeb party, which is part of the majority, had threatened to leave the government for getting the Social Affairs Ministry rather than the Education Minister as it had requested.

The An Nahar newspaper reported that phone calls were made over night to smooth things over and that a visit was scheduled for today at the party’s headquarters to seek conciliation. However, Kataeb’s leadership is said to be still in a meeting today.

Another hurdle emerged within the majority from Michel Pharaon, who hoped to get the Ministry of Information and instead was appointed Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs.

Although the new government has been able to navigate its way so far, it has not yet left behind rough waters.

According to a well-established tradition, the new government must deliver a “ministerial statement” laying down its  plans, which lawmakers must vote on, thus defining Hizbollah’s role and what it will do about the latter’s weapons, al-Manar TV, the party’s TV network, reported.

For the network, discussions had a happy ending when it was agreed that the part of the government’s programme that concerned the Party of God would not be touched, al Manar TV reported, and this despite reservations from some lawmakers from the majority March 14 Movement.

UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams issued a statement in which he congratulated Hariri, seizing the opportunity to remind the new prime minister that the new government should be firm and completely committed to implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for disarming Hezbollah, the only political group in Lebanon that still possesses weapons. (PD)

• lebanon
• government
• cabinet
• saad
• hariri
• hizbollah
• march
• 14
• movement
• kataeb
• weapons
• un
• resolution
• 1701