Introduction to the evening news 03-12-2011

Each time a wound is cured by the cabinet, another one bleeds. The euphoria of the STL funding is fading away under the effect of the piled up issues, such as those related to the wages, electricity and the MEA. However, these mines were topped by the statement put forth by Hezbollah Leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah with regards to the false witnesses issue and the activation of the cabinet work. Any solution to these issues might turn into a conflict, which in turn might lead to the suspension of the cabinet meeting since all the issues are interconnected.            

The false witnesses issue is linked to the completion of the judicial council members, supposing that the issue is deemed to be referred to the council. The judicial council awaits the appointment of the head of the Supreme Judicial Council. In turn, the appointment of the head requires an agreement between President Michel Sleiman, General Aoun and the rest of the cabinet components. As for the wage-related clause submitted by the labor minister to the cabinet, it hinges on the project of health coverage for all Lebanese. It also poses many financial difficulties to the state and employers and sows many irreconcilable differences between employers, state and employees over the wage increase and benefits.            

As for the recent, yet old, electricity crisis, it is linked to the comprehensive plan approved by the cabinet after a conflict that threatened to rock the cabinet, and requires activation and funding. As for the “appointment mine”, it is marked by the prime minister’s adherence to security and judicial symbols, knowing that the transfer of the false witnesses issue to the judicial council requires the reduction of the privileges of the Public Prosecutor, which is unlikely to happen.               

As for the regional developments, Syrian events are still on the forefront. An Arab committee on Syria began a meeting on Saturday in Doha to look into the sanctions against Syria suggested by experts.