Salam Blames 'Immature' Political Performance for Country's Crises

Prime Minister Tammam Salam said on Saturday that the immature performance by some political leaders drove the country to a standstill, stressing that only compromises will resolve the crises gripping the country.

“The immature political performance... is preventing us from reaching solutions to end the impasse,” Salam said in an interview with Aqlam Touhawer program on Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3).

He stressed that “a country similar to Lebanon cannot heal without carrying out settlements.”

“Any agreement (between the rival parties) will benefit us all and spread stability amid the conflicts raging in the region,” the PM told his interviewer.

Despite his pessimism, Salam considered that the local situation is “relatively holding up.”

He noted that the delay in electing a new head of state is due to the “preoccupation of foreign powers with matters that are more dangerous than the situation in Lebanon.”

Salam stressed that his cabinet's work is to carry out reforms and lessen the repercussions of the general situation on Lebanon.

“The collapse of the government will have repercussions that exceeds the presidential vacuum and the extension of the parliament's tenure,” the premier warned.

Lebanon has been without a president since May when the term of Michel Suleiman ended over differences among the parliamentary blocs on a compromise head of state.

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

In May 2013, the parliament voted to extend its own mandate for 17 months after the rival political parties failed to reach a deal on a new electoral law other than the one based on 50 small-sized districts in a winner-takes-all system.

Earlier this month, lawmakers also deepened the political deadlock in the country after they voted once again to delay elections and announced they would extend their mandate until 2017, which was met by a huge popular dismay.

Asked about the dialogue between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal Movement, Salam lauded the efforts exerted by Speaker Nabih Berri, saying: “The speaker has capabilities that he can use in a positive way to find solutions.”

He also revealed that he is “playing a positive role in this regard.”

On October 28, Hariri launched an initiative based on the election of a new president and exerting efforts to prevent Lebanon from being turned into an “arena witnessing destruction similar to that that is ravaging Syria.”

Nasrallah responded positively a few days later, announcing that his party is ready to “engage in dialogue” with al-Mustaqbal.

Concerning the ongoing abduction of Lebanese soldiers and policemen by jihadists, who briefly overran the northeastern border town of Arsal, Salam said that his cabinet “is adopting all the possible means to free them,” refusing to waiver the state's dignity and rights.

Three hostages have already been killed by their captors, and the country has been on edge for months over the fate of the remaining soldiers and policemen.

Lebanon is deeply divided over the war in Syria.

Earlier on Saturday, Salam expressed regret that Lebanon had to to cancel Independence Day celebrations due to the vacuum at the Baabda Palace and the abduction of Lebanese soldiers and policemen, stressing the importance of resolving the political differences through dialogue.

He said in comments to As Safir newspaper that “the only solution is to resume dialogue and practice openness.”

Lebanon was due to mark the 71st anniversary of its independence from France on Saturday with a parade involving all the country's security forces.

The cancellation is the first since the end of the civil war.

The day is usually marked with a speech to the nation by the president on the eve of the holiday and a military parade on the day itself in Beirut, attended by the country's political leadership.