Salam Says Cabinet Lacks Productivity due to Political Rift

Prime Minister Tammam Salam expressed frustration on Sunday over his cabinet's lack of productivity, considering that the sharp political rift in the country has a direct impact on the government's work.

“The cabinet is using half its capacities,” Salam told An Nahar newspaper, urging all sides to revitalize the government work so that it will once again be productive.

Lebanon has been without a president, who is also the commander-in-chief, since May because of disagreements between the March 14 and 8 alliances.

The cabinet assumes the executive tasks of the president as stated by the constitution until a new head of state is elected.

Political arch-foes agreed on a mechanism regulating the government’s work during the ongoing presidential vacuum, which compels the premier to prepare the cabinet's agenda 72 hours ahead of its meeting, in which any controversial article would be canceled, and states that the inking of decrees should be done in harmony.

Regarding his meeting with Speaker Nabih Berri on Saturday, Salam described it as a routine visit, pointing out that Berri is exerting efforts to end the presidential deadlock.

Salam also praised the security operation in the eastern Bekaa city of Baalbek, expressing hope that it would spare the country any potential dangers amid the developments in the region.

Clashes erupted at dawn on Saturday between the army and a number of gunmen in the Baalbek as the army cracked down on wanted suspects.

The army and security forces had been carrying out in recent months raids in various regions throughout Lebanon in search of wanted fugitives and suspected terrorists.