Naharnet

Hollande Voices Support for Salam during Phone Talks

French President Francois Hollande has telephoned Prime Minister Tammam Salam and expressed to him France's support for Lebanon and its state institutions, state-run National News Agency said Monday.

The talks tackled the current cabinet crisis in Lebanon and its repercussions on the country, NNA said.

The French president expressed his regret over “the continued presidential vacuum and the Lebanese political forces' failure to agree on the election of a new president,” the agency added.

Hollande lauded Salam's “wisdom,” stressing “his full support for him in the efforts aimed at preventing the spread of paralysis to the council of ministers institution,” NNA said.

The French leader also emphasized that France “will continue the plan of equipping the army and security forces in Lebanon that was endorsed as part of the Saudi grant.”

On Sunday, Social Affairs Minister Rashid Derbas, who is close to Salam, announced that the embattled premier will “announce his decision at the right time,” amid reports that the PM is on the brink of resignation over the growing cabinet crisis.

“What we're seeing on the streets is an inevitable result of the cabinet paralysis,” the minister added, referring to the accumulation of garbage on the streets and street protests over the government's failure to address the waste management crisis.

Y.R.


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