Change and Reform Bloc leader MP Michel Aoun spoke Wednesday after the weekly meeting of his bloc, announcing “that we want to maintain our current portfolios and demand a fifth one since our parliamentary bloc’s size has increased from 21 MPs to 27.”

According to him, Marada Movement leader MP Sleiman Franjieh agreed to accept a state ministry because he believed it would resolve the cabinet impasse, but Aoun added that “the obstacle [to the cabinet formation] lies with all the ministries.”

Aoun said that he agreed with Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri to keep secret the contents of their recent meetings, but he added that they have not discussed “portfolios and the names of prospective ministers.”

“It seems the cabinet is being formed without our knowledge,” he added.

He also said that none of the agreements reached with Hariri were implemented. “We discussed the concept of swapping portfolios, but alternatives proposals were not accepted,” he stated.

“They [majority] refuse to adopt the concept of proportionality and equal distribution of key ministries, and when they proposed the concept of swapping portfolios, we accepted. But it appears it is only applied to us,” Aoun added.

Aoun struck a defiant tone on the cabinet-formation process, saying that “we will not allow anyone, no matter how high his position, to stop us from being granted any ministry” and “we have the right to participate in all public sectors.”

“We have not made and will not make any concessions without [receiving anything] in return,” he added.

Aoun also spoke about Hariri’s role as PM-designate and said that “Hariri is responsible for the outcome of the cabinet-formation process,” adding, “I hold Hariri’s allies responsible for the cabinet formation as well.”

He criticized the state of government in Lebanon, starting with the finance ministry, which he accused the Future Movement of managing incompetently, and said “there is a monopolization of sovereign ministries because we cannot be granted the finance ministry.”

He also asked for clarifications about rumors that Lebanon’s public debt has risen to 56 billion L.L.

Aoun also slammed security institutions, calling them “100% politicized and not in good condition,” and saying they “need revamping.” He added that “many cases were dropped over time without proper investigation, and many prisoners, who have served their sentences, are still not released under the pretext that there is no money for their deportation.”

He defended the work of ministries held by the Change and Reform bloc, saying that “it is shameful that Lebanon First bloc MPs Atef Majdalani and Hadi Hobeich are attacking someone who succeeded in a ministry and was defeated in parliamentary elections,” a reference to Telecommunications Minister Gebran Bassil.

“We should either implement reforms throughout the institutions, or the state will never progress,” Aoun declared.

-NOW Lebanon