Yesterday evening the parliamentary majority decided to put forward the name of the current premier to the Head of State. He has the task of forming the next national unity government as set out in the Doha accord. Election law and International tribunal remain the main obstacles on his path.

Beirut (AsiaNews) –Most probably within the day Fouad Siniora will be confirmed prime minister and will have the difficult task of presiding over the national unity government set out by the Doha accord.  In fact the President of the Republic,  Michel Suleiman, began consultations for the executive early this morning, while yesterday evening the majority indicated the name of Siniora.

Names to fill the post of premier which have circulated in recent days were reduce to that of Saad Hariri, leader of the Future party, the biggest in parliament, and son of Rafic assassinated in 2005 and Siniora, the murdered premiers’ right hand man.

The 64 year old economist, married with three children is known for his reserve, and so far has shown little interest in being re-confirmed premier.  “I think the time has come for change” – he is reported as saying – “if it depended on me I would leave, frankly I have had quite enough”.

According to An Nahar, during yesterday evening’s meeting, the prime minister held the elaboration of new election laws as his primary concern, ahead of next spring’s vote.  Another difficult task awaiting him is the that of pushing ahead with the International Tribunal which has to rule on the assassins of Rafic Hariri, an institution that Syria is firmly opposed to and there also the internal op position which according to the Doha accord will be the “third block” of the new government.  That block will constitute 11 ministers, a sufficient number, according to the Constitution, to stop any important government decision.

• lebanon
• government
• parliament
• opposition
• syria
• president
• rafic
• hariri
• siniora
• sulieman
• constitution