MP Rahme to LBCI: Hezbollah will not participate in cabinet without ally Aoun

MP Emile Rahme said on Monday that Hezbollah will not participate in the new cabinet without its ally, Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun.

On another note, Rahme stressed that caretaker Minister of Energy Gebran Bassil was able to achieve huge success in the Ministry, noting that the Future Movement seeks to give the Ministry of Energy to anyone except the FPM.

Rahme's comments were made during an interview with Nharkom Said TV show in which he stressed that the rotation of portfolios aims at targeting the Christians, noting that MP Aoun will not accept to be "politically exiled" after being "physically exiled."

Lebanese leaders are sharply divided over several issues, such as the formation of the new cabinet, the presidential elections and the civil war in neighboring Syria.

Rahme slammed the latest statement of President Michel Sleiman, saying that the President of the Republic should represent all the Lebanese people.

President Michel Sleiman told al-Mustaqbal newspaper on Monday that Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam will form a neutral cabinet in case the March 8 alliance refuses the 8-8-8 cabinet formula.

Sleiman also noted that deliberations are ongoing, adding that March 8 alliance is showing positive signs in this regard.

Asked about a sovereign portfolio for Christians, Sleiman said that the  President of the Republic has powers that are "more important than any sovereign portfolio."