BEIRUT: Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Al-Hariri began parliamentary consultations yesterday aiming to form a unity government with rivals including the Iranian-backed Hezbollah.
The main potential stumbling block facing US-backed Hariri is a demand by pro-Syrian Hezbollah and its allies for veto power in Cabinet, a source close to the opposition told Reuters. Hariri has rejected the idea. The Hariri-led “March 14” coalition rode to a surprise victory in the June 7 parliamentary election, winning 71 of 128 seats in the chamber, dealing a blow to an opposition which was hoping to gain the upper hand in Lebanon’s political landscape.
“The opposition interprets real participation as a third plus one (veto power) and this is the main obstacle against forming a government quickly and what may delay the formation,” the source said.
Hezbollah and its allies have 11 of 30 seats in the outgoing Cabinet, securing them effective veto power over its decisions.
Hariri has been keen on securing the backing of his powerful Shiite rivals, who are close allies of neighboring Syria, to ensure a smooth launch for his administration.
Immediately after the election, he called for the contentious issue of disarming Hezbollah to be shelved. The group, labeled a terrorist organization by the United States, fought Israel in a 34-day war in 2006. Mohammad Raad, leader of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, said after meeting Hariri the country desperately needed “a unity government and real participation.”
