Lebanese politicians from the March 14 Forces and the parliamentary majority lashed out on Thursday against Kesrouan MP Michel Aoun for calling for the formation of a national unity Cabinet. In an interview with As-Safir daily published Thursday, Aoun said Prime Minister Fouad Siniora "will pay the price of his stubbornness." Aoun was responding to the premier, who said a day earlier that the Cabinet would not resign. | “We warned you of the dangerous repercussions that might happen if the government does not resign but you don't care; now we will choose the appropriate time to achieve the desired change in our own way...” |
Addressing the people, the head of the Reform and Change parliamentary bloc threatened: "We warned you of the dangerous repercussions that might happen if the government does not resign but you don't care; now we will choose the appropriate time to achieve the desired change in our own way." He added that Siniora's government "has forged an alliance with foreign countries working against Lebanese parties."
Following Aoun's statement, government allies expressed their strong disapproval of Aoun's stance. The head of the Democratic Renewal Movement, former MP Nassib Lahoud criticized what he called "a programmed campaign against the government that aims to shift the attention away from the humanitarian and socioeconomic crisis of the Israeli offensive against Lebanon." In a statement released following the movement's weekly meeting Thursday, Lahoud said "this campaign does not meet the priorities of the Lebanese."
| “... some parties are seeking either to increase their shares in the Cabinet so that they can hamper ministerial decisions or prevent the current government from assuming its responsibilities...” |
Future Movement MP Atef Majdalani criticized calls for the creation of a national unity Cabinet, saying they were aimed at toppling Siniora's government. In a statement issued on Thursday, Majdalani said that "some parties are seeking either to increase their shares in the Cabinet so that they can hamper ministerial decisions or prevent the current government from assuming its responsibilities in implementing UN Resolution 1701 and the creation of an international tribunal to try those accused in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri."