BEIRUT – MP Boutros Harb stressed on Monday that Change and Reform bloc was still hampering the Cabinet formation by sticking to the Telecommunications portfolios, insisting on assigning ministries to candidates defeated in the parliamentary elections and exchanging some ministries. He noted that ahead of said obstacles, Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri was standing his ground against MP Michel Aoun’s obstinacy and insisting of taking off the Telecommunications portfolio from Change and Reform bloc. 

“The calculations of MP Michel Aoun are different from our calculations because we consider that country’s interests must have the priority over the private ones”, Harb stressed to Voice of Lebanon radio station. “Assigning ministries to candidates defeated in the parliamentary elections contradicts the norms”, he said. However, he confirmed the prevailing positive atmosphere in the country. He also expected the Cabinet to be formed by the end of the week or at the beginning of the following week.