Gemayel Says Party Will Not Tolerate Attempts to Tamper with Lebanon's Sovereignty
Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel said on Sunday that the party will not tolerate attempts to undermine Lebanon''s sovereignty, stressing that Hizbullah will be confronted at the cabinet and not by any other means.
“The Phalage party has been demanding the formation of an all-embracing and capable cabinet,” Gemayel said during a press conference in Bekfaia.
He expressed hope that Prime Minister Tammam Salam's cabinet would be capable of meeting all the constitutional deadlines on time.
“We have been waiting for the formation of this cabinet, which was formed after a long period of sufferings, hope that it would meet the aspirations of the people,” Gemayel said.
He hailed the efforts exerted by President Michel Suleiman and Salam to form the government, describing it as a necessity to restore calm in the country.
“This cabinet isn't expected to make miracles,” Gemayel noted.
However, he expected from Salam's cabinet to “consolidated among its components despite the differences to achieve stability.”
“We disagree with Hizbullah but we are not afraid to confront it at the cabinet, the battle should be political and not by the use of arms,” the Christian leader added.
“We are concerned with moving the political battles to the government and parliament,” he stressed.
Gemayel lauded the sacrifices made by head of al-Mustaqbal Saad Hariri and his courageous stances that helped the formation of Salam's government.
On Saturday, PM Salam unveiled a compromise government, capping nearly 11 months of political wrangling.
Since April, efforts to form a government had stumbled over disputes between Hizbullah, whose fighters have been helping the Syrian army crush the revolt, and Hariri's bloc which backs the Sunni-led uprising.
Hariri paved the way for the breakthrough when he announced in a U-turn last month that he was willing to allow his so-called March 14 bloc join a government with arch-rival Hizbullah.
The new government brings together for the first time in three years Hizbullah and the Hariri bloc, and the agreed compromise ensures neither side has veto power over the other.
The 24 portfolios are divided into three groups, with the March 14 and 8 alliance each taking eight ministries, with candidates considered to be neutral allocated the remainder.
To preserve the delicate balance between the country's 18 sects, the government is also equally divided between Christian and Muslim representatives.
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