Lebanon's anti-Syria coalition is accepting the return of a staunch Damascus ally as parliament speaker, focusing its energy instead on picking a new prime minister — and the real fight, forming a new government. The coalition wants to put together the first Lebanese government in years not dominated by Syria's allies. But it must win the approval of President Emile Lahoud, the country's most powerful pro-Damascus politician, who will seek to ensure his camp has a place in the Cabinet.Outgoing parliament speaker Nabih Berri was all but assured of retaining his post when the new legislature votes on a speaker during its inaugural session Tuesday. For 13 years, Berri has been seen as one of the enforcers of Syria's policies in Lebanon. But Berri — a Shiite Muslim, as the speaker must be under Lebanon's sectarian division of posts — will preside over a very different body. For years, Syria dominated Lebanon and its Lebanese allies controlled parliament. In elections over the past weeks, the anti-Syrian coalition won a strong majority in the 128-member body. The main factions of the coalition announced their acceptance of Berri, leader of the Shiite Amal party. Trying to stop him would have meant a political fight with Amal and the Hezbollah movement, which together hold 36 seats in parliament and want Berri in the post. That would have strained the coalition. Walid Jumblatt, a top anti-Syrian leader, backed Berri because he owed Hezbollah and Amal a favor after they helped him in the elections — one of the many convoluted alliances that arose during the vote.
Fourteen Christian lawmakers from the alliance debated Monday whether to vote against Berri or cast blank ballots. They didn't agree on a stance, but in any case their votes can't stop Berri. The 14-member parliamentary bloc headed by Gen. Michel Aoun, the Christian opposition leader, decided during a meeting Monday to cast blank ballots. In a statement, the bloc lamented the lack of "an opportunity for a complete democratic choice" in the speaker race.
The anti-Syrian alliance is focusing on using its new legislative majority to pick the prime minister, the parliament's next step after selecting a speaker. Two names have been touted as likely candidates: former finance minister Fuad Saniora or former justice minister Bahij Tabbara, both close associates of Saad Hariri, the son of slain former prime minister Rafik Hariri. Another possibility is the current caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, who has ties to Syria. He was seen as a compromise candidate — more acceptable to Lahoud.
Within coming days, Lahoud will start polling lawmakers for their choice of prime minister and under the constitution he must accept whoever has the most backing. But he is free to approve or reject the Cabinet that the premier-designate puts together. If parliament puts forward a government too heavily anti-Syrian, Lahoud could veto it, leaving Mikati's current Cabinet in place — possibly for months.