BEIRUT, Lebanon, OCT. 25, 2000 (ZENIT.org).- With the next government now being decided, Christian politicians and analysts say there is little hope that the Cabinet will constitute true national unity because it is unlikely to include influential Christian groups, The Daily Star reported today.
The new Cabinet will be Lebanon's eighth since the 1989 signing of the Taif Accord, which divided power among sects and ended the civil war, the Star said.
By leaving out potential Cabinet members who are strongly tied to the Maronite Church or other traditional Christian parties, Christians sense that consecutive governments and presidents intentionally worked to "marginalize if not kill any attempt for a real Christian leadership to rise," political scientist Farid Khazen told the newspaper.
In addition to having half of the ministerial posts, Christian candidates are chosen from all regions, the newspaper said. But because they are picked on the basis of their political allegiances, many argue the Christians in Cabinet do not represent their communities, the Star noted.
Zenit - The World Seen From Rome
25. oktober 2000