Hamade: Expanding the cabinet is to protect the ministers

by **Admin** Fri Mar 21, 2008 10:07 am

Lebanon's Communications Minister Marwan Hamadeh, declared that expanding the cabinet is one of the options the government is considering . He said the discussions are still at an early stage and no decisions have been made so far on this issue by the government of Prime Minsiter Fouad Siniora.

Hamadeh said the government will consult with all the political and religious groups and with the leadership of the March 14 alliance before making any decisions on this issue.

Hamadeh stressed that the expansion of the government "will contribute to the protection of the ministers ".

There is fear within the community that assassinations could take place and the government could lose the 2/3 majority it now enjoys. This fear was prompted by the assassination of former minister of industry Pierre Gemayel , son of former president Amin Gemayel.

In a related development Minister of Youth and Sports Ahmad Fatfat told reporters that "The issue of the expansion of government is not the number one option the cabinet is considering stressing that the first option remains the election of a president for Lebanon.

Farfat ruled out the idea of replacing the Shiite ministers that resigned about 18 months ago.

Fatfat said that the main issue right now is to replace slain minister Pierre Gemayel and resigned minister of Environment Yaqub el Saraaf , who is close to former president Emile Lahoud.