|
The mystery surrounding the numerous failing attempts to form the government seemed to have found their explanations in both March 14 and March 8 statements. While March 14 accused the opposition of obstructing the government because of Hezbollah’s request to give SNP leader Ali Kanso a seat in the Cabinet. The opposition on the other hand pointed out that the conflict within March 14 members over the ministerial seats is the real reason behind the status-quo. However, MP Walid Jumblatt’s statement has definitely changed the picture.
The Political Analyst in the daily Annahar, George Nassif, said to iloubnan.info, “I was surprised by Jumblatt’s statement from Baabda yesterday, especially that his explanations were purely made for electoral purposes and were unjust and unconvincing”.
“He cannot talk about relativity and consider that because the Lebanese forces have five MPs in the parliament while he maintains seventeen, they should be less represented. He cannot talk about relativity because the Lebanese Forces represents the Christians in the coalition of March 14 in the government, and a large segment of the Christian society in the country”, Nassif added.
However, political Analyst in the daily Al-Liwaa’ Marwan Dbaisseh explained that “Jumblatt’s stand is neutral. According to him, Jumblatt is working for the benefit of the entire nation, while being at the same distance of all factions”
“Each political party is entitled to have its own vision and its own policy”, he added.
On the other hand, MP Zahra implied Thursday in a statement that the Lebanese forces might not participate in a government that would show the 8th of March as victorious.
Regarding this matter, Nassif said, “The refusal of the Lebanese Forces to participate in the government will drop the slogan of National Unity Government”.
“I believe that the Lebanese Forces and all other factions should be fairly represented,” he added.
Nassif explained that if any party is not fairly represented in the government, this will result in a conflict.
“I believe that General Aoun, Quornat-Chehwan gathering, and the Lebanese Forces should all be represented in the government”, he stressed.
Dbaisseh on the other hand feared “a state of tension” in case the Lebanese Forces do not take part in the new government.
Yet, Nassif talked about Hezbollah’s insistence on including Ali Kanso in the government and said, “Hezbollah’s request to give a portfolio to Asem Kanso was met by the refusal of PM Saniora for the soul reason that PM Saniora wanted a homogenous government that would work and collaborate well”.
Furthermore, and concerning a possible regional or international interference that would be halting the formation of the government Dbaisseh said, “What is happening in Lebanon today is a result of a foreign plan designed for Lebanon. This country has always been a platform to foreign players. The Lebanese people are merely spectators of the regional game being played on their land”.
Nassif responded saying that “The Syrian Regime never left Lebanon; it is present through its tools. Hezbollah and Amal represent the Syrian authority in Lebanon.”
“The Doha agreement gave the opposition a veto in the government. And the fact that the president has good relations with Syria proves undoubtedly the Syrian presence in Lebanon”, he pointed out.
Alternatively, Dbaisseh stated, “The Syrian role in Lebanon is not something new. It dates back 200 years.”
“And if March 14 is working for the benefit of Lebanon, so is the 8th of March”, he said.
Nassif concluded. “All the analysts and observers were certain that the government would see the light in the last 3 days, and especially before the president’s visit to France. Yet we are still without a government and we are most likely to remain so for a while”.
*Editor’s note: Waiting for Godot is a play by Samuel Beckett, in which the characters wait for someone named Godot, who never arrives. Godot's absence has led to many different interpretations since the play's premiere.
|
