Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt dealt a blow to demands by the Hezbollah-led opposition for veto powers in any cabinet to be formed after the election of a new president. Jumblatt told the pro-Syrian as-Safir newspaper that such a veto power would "strip LebanonÂ’s future president of his powers and escalate Sunni-Shiite sensitivities. It has been rejected and it is rejected" by the March 14 majority alliance.Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah had said the presidential election would not be held if the opposition does not get veto powers in the forthcoming cabinet.
Jumblatt knocked down an interpretation by the opposition of a clause included in the Arab initiative that calls for the formation of a government representing the various political factions on the base of three equal quarters, often referred to as 10+10+10. ( 10 ministers each for the majority , minority an the president ) "The majority would not accept this (concept)," Jumblatt said.