POLITICAL FACTIONS REPRESENTED IN THE NEW CABINET
NaharNet
July 11 2008
Lebanon
The 30-member government of national unity and the first under
President Michel Suleiman brought in new ministers and a change of
portfolios for some old ones.
Suleiman nominated State minister Yusuf Takla (Greek Catholic, new),
Defense Minister: Elias Murr (Greek Orthodox, unchanged) and Interior
Minister: Ziad Baroud (Maronite, new).
The new cabinet saw the representation of MP Michel Aoun’s FPM for
the first time by Social Affairs Minister Mario Aoun (Maronite,
new), Deputy Prime Minister: Issam Abu Jamra (Greek Orthodox, new),
Telecommunications Minister: Gibran Bassil (Maronite, new).
Al-Mustaqbal Parliamentary Bloc was represented by Premier Fouad
Saniora, the first woman to hold the education ministry and sister
of assassinated Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, MP Bahia Hariri (Sunni,
new), Finance Minister: Mohammed Shatah (Sunni, new) who was Saniora’s
advisor, and State Minister: Khaled Qabbani (Sunni) who held education
ministry.
MP Walid Jumblat’s Progressive Socialist Party was represented
by State Minister Wael Abou Faour (Druze, new), Public Works and
Transport Minister: Ghazi Aridi who held the information post.
Lebanese Forces was represented by Justice Minister: Ibrahim Najjar
(Greek Orthodox, new), and Environment Minister: Antoine Karam
(Maronite, new).
Phalange Party was represented by Tourism Minister: Elie Marouni
(Maronite, new), whose brother Nasri Marouni was shot dead in Zahle
months ago during a Phalange party event.
Qornet Shehwan Gathering was represented by ex-MP, presidential
candidate State Minister Nassib Lahoud (Maronite, new). He replaced
social affairs minister MP Nayla Muawad.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri’s Amal movement was represented by
Industry Minister: Ghazi Zoayter (Shiite, new), Foreign Minister: Fawzi
Salloukh (Shiite) who returned to the post he resigned in 2006, and
Health Minister: Mohammad Khalifa (Shiite) who also retains his post.
Hizbullah was represented by Labor Minister: Mohammed Fneish (Shiite)
who held the energy portfolio in Saniora’s resigned government.
Tripoli Gathering was represented by its leader Mohammed al-Safadi
who now is Economy and Trade Minister: Mohammed Safadi (Sunni)
instead of Public Works and Transport portfolio.
Armenian Tashnag party was represented by Energy and Water Minister:
Alan Taborian (new).
Armenian Henchak party was represented by State Minister: Jean
Oghassabian who held the Administrative Development portfolio.
Democratic Party was represented by its leader Sports and Youth
Minister: Talal Arslan (Druze, new).
Popular Bloc was represented by its leader Agriculture Minister:
Elie Skaff (Greek Catholic, new).
The Syrian Social National Party was represented by its former leader
State Minister Ali Qanso (Shiite, new).
Independents are: Information Minister: Tareq Mitri (Greek Orthodox)
who was education minister in the resigned government, Culture
Minister: Tammam Salam (Sunni, new), Displaced Persons Minister:
Raymond Audi (Greek Orthodox, new) who was nominated by March 14
forces.
Administrative Development Minister: Ibrahim Shamseddine (Shiite,
new) is also an independent minister nominated by March 14 Forces
and whose nomination Speaker Berri reportedly fiercely opposed.