Salam Says Contacts Ongoing with March 8 over Cabinet Impasse
Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam said on Monday that contacts are ongoing with the March 8 coalition, in particular with Speaker Nabih Berri and PSP chief MP Walid Jumblat.
Sources close to Salam hailed in comments published in local newspapers his latest meeting with President Michel Suleiman, considering that it was a new push to the ongoing consultation over the formation of the cabinet process.
Salam was tasked by President Michel Suleiman, after caretaker PM Najib Miqati's cabinet resigned in March, with forming a new cabinet after he received the support of 124 out of 128 MPs during binding consultations at Baabda palace.
But conflicting demands have so far prevented the formation of the government.
“A new government must be formed swiftly to safeguard the country from all the security violations,” the sources said.
“We can't waste any more time,” the sources added.
Salam is seeking the formation of a 24-member cabinet in which the March 8, March 14 and centrists camps would each get eight ministers.
He is also rejecting granting veto power to any power, which the March 8 camp has been demanding.
The March 14 coalition is meanwhile calling for keeping Hizbullah out of the cabinet over its role in Syria's war.
On Saturday, Suleiman considered that forming a new cabinet and taking part in national dialogue sessions “would prevent divisions and fighting in the country.”
He also urged political and religious figures in the country to adopt a "moderate" approach in their speeches.
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