 The formation of the new government is expected to be announced by the end of the week, with the noticeable absence of outgoing Interior Minister Suleiman Franjieh.
In a statement issued by Franjieh's press office, the minister said he will not be taking part in the new government.
| "I'm fired? Whaddya mean, 'I'm fired'?" |
According to the statement, "While we wish Prime Minister-designate Omar Karami luck in forming his new Cabinet, we would like to explain that Franjieh will not be taking part in the new government." Franjieh's statement came as Karami announced consultations for the new Cabinet will kick off as soon as the mourning period for the death of Pope John Paul II ends. Karami added: "The formation of the new government will have to wait until Saturday. We cannot form the government while the country is in a state of mourning for the death of the pope." Karami also said the opposition would not be taking part in the Cabinet. He said: "We waited 20 days for them to take part, but they didn't want to. But we are holding talks with them to see who they deem appropriate candidates to represent them in the new Cabinet."
Ever since his re-appointment as premier, Karami has insisted that if he cannot form a government with opposition participation, he will resign. But following a meeting of the loyalist Ain al-Tineh Gathering last Friday, Karami announced he would go on with forming the government despite earlier statements he would step down. During the meeting Speaker Nabih Berri had added the gathering would not accept any form of electoral law except that based on the mohafaza (medium-sized electoral district). |