Naharnet

Salam: If Paralysis Persists, Cabinet Could Become Caretaker

Prime Minister Tammam Salam warned that the government could become a caretaker in light of the current paralysis that the cabinet and the country is witnessing, An Nahar daily reported on Monday.

“We may go there in reality, and I have already said that there is no need for a cabinet that does not convene and produce,” Salam told the daily in an interview highlighting the four-month paralysis of the cabinet.

On the stalled presidential settlement that suggested the nomination of Marada leader MP Suleiman Franjieh for the post of president, Salam said: “Nothing so far indicates that it stopped. The presidency requires consensus between the various powers until the election becomes possible.”

A Paris meeting last month between Franjieh and al-Mustaqbal Movement leader Saad Hariri had triggered intense speculation that a presidential settlement was in the making.

Replying to a question if the PM believes that Franjieh is a consensual president, Salam said: “When Hariri, who is of the March 14 camp, suggests Franjieh, who is of the March 8 for the post of president, that makes him consensual.”

Lebanon is suffering from a political crisis that erupted following the end of President Michel Suleiman's term in May 2014.

The government assumed the responsibilities of the head of state in his absence but sharp differences have stopped it short of taking important decisions.

On the possibility that the PM could call the cabinet to session soon, Salam pointed to the trash management crisis and said: “I will not call for a session until all the factors of the trash file are complete. I am not ready to call for a meeting before this file is permanently closed.

“We cannot address any other matter no matter how important it is before removing the waste from the streets,” he said, adding that major progress has been made to export the trash but refused to give further details.

Since the closure in July of the Naameh landfill that receives the waste of Beirut and Mount Lebanon, Lebanon has been suffering from a trash management crisis that left its streets drowning with waste.

On the controversial oil decrees file, the PM said: “I am ready to call for a session if I sensed agreement on the subject. The trash and oil are two important issues. If an agreement was reached, it would be a big achievement for the cabinet.”

D.A.

M.T.

Source: Naharnet


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