STL Funding and Lebanese Polity

by Ghassan Karam
And so Lebanon dodges another bullet. What was billed, by all sides, as being potentially an explosive event ended up being a whimper just like the Elliot had predicted in “The Hollow Men” :

Mikati must Dismiss the FPM Histrionics

By Ghassan Karam
Old habits die hard, actually at times they never die. This is a good thing if the habit in question is that of integrity, high ethical standards, intellectual curiosity and creative thinking. But it is a bad when the characteristic in question is that of being addicted to superficiality, megalomania and a squeaky [...]

Bassil says March 14 is represented in the cabinet

Energy Minister Gebran Bassil said in an interview with An-Nahar newspaper published on Friday that “March 14 is represented in the government, but with new faces.”
(more…)

Aridi, Nahhas, Bassil clash during cabinet meeting

The weekly session of the Cabinet Wednesday saw a heated debate over the disputed transfer of funds from the Telecommunications to the Finance Ministry, as representatives of the Free Patriotic Movement and the Progressive Socialist Party clashed verbally over the issue. (more…)

FPM has faith in Hezbollah’s arms

In response to statements that the issue of Hezbollah’s weapons must be discussed in the national dialogue, Culture Minister Gabi Layoun said he rejects attempts to disarm the Shia group. (more…)

Cabinet Formation and the Telecommunication Debacle

By Ghassan Karam
“Be Careful what you wish for because it might come true” is a proverb that the FPM should have taken to heart.

The FPM Demagoguery.

No one doubts that Gibran Basil is not another political figure who lost his parliamentary seat in the last elections in Lebanon. He is much more than that, he is the son in law of Gen Michel Aoun,

Nahas is under pressure to resign

During an interview with Future TV , March 14 MP Atef Majdalani called on Telecommunications Minister Charbel Nahas to resign.

He said that Nahas’ conduct with PM Saad Hariri is immoral.

Majdalani’s comment comes after another March 14 MP accused Nahas of corruption . (more…)

Aoun visits Syria with Family

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun traveled to Syria on Friday with his family. An earlier report in the Ad Diyar newspaper said that he is scheduled to meet with Syrian officials.

A former army chief, Aoun, 73, was forced into exile after being defeated in a Syrian offensive in 1990 at the end of Lebanon’s 15-year civil war.

He had declared a “war of liberation” against enemy forces. (more…)

Karam rushed to Hotel Dieu Hospital

Several local media sources reported on Thursday that Senior Free Patriotic Movement official, retired Brigadier General Fayez Karam, was rushed to the Hotel Dieu Hospital in Beirut to undergo emergency heart surgery. (more…)