Saad al-Hariri
Inside Story

Lebanon’s cabinet crisis

Is it the beginning of another political stand-off in the country?

It has been just over 12 months since politicians in Lebanon signed an agreement that ended three years of political crisis.
 
Now, a disagreement over forming a new national unity government is threatening to turn into another political stand-off after Hezbollah and its allies rejected a proposed line-up by Saad al-Hariri, the prime minister designate.
 
Since Hariri’s 14th March alliance won Lebanon’s parliamentary elections in June, he has been unable to agree on a coalition cabinet with the opposition.
 
Is it the beginning of yet another political stand-off in Lebanon? And how do regional players influence events in this country?

Inside Story presenter Lauren Taylor is joined by Kamel Wazne, a political analyst in Beirut, Saleh El Machnouk, a political analyst and columnist for Lebanon’s Annahar newspaper, and Mara Karlin, the former Levant director at the US department of defence. 

This episode of Inside Story aired from Wednesday, September 9, 2009.