Bou Saab Says FPM not Targeting PM: We Refuse to be Excluded

Education Minister Elias Bou Saab denied Tuesday that the Free Patriotic Movement is targeting the jurisdictions of Prime Minister Tammam Salam.

“The dispute is not over the jurisdictions of the premier and we will not begin to target them,” Bou Saab said in comments published in al-Mustaqbal newspaper.

The minister, who is loyal to Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun, stressed that the FPM ministers will attend any cabinet session that the PM calls for.

However, he pointed out that “there is a cabinet mechanism that we agreed upon to manage the state affairs amid the presidential vacuum.”

“The premier had said that he will not adopt any decree if any minister voiced his rejection on it.”

The paralysis came as a result of the warning issued by FPM officials last week that the party's ministers would block any cabinet decision before security and military appointments are made.

FPM chief MP Michel Aoun has bluntly rejected any attempt to extend the terms of the officials.

He has been lobbying for political consensus on the appointment of Commando Regiment chief Brig. Gen. Chamel Roukoz as army chief as part of a package for the appointment of other top security officers.

Roukoz is his son-in-law.

Salam remarked on Monday that he was procrastinating in calling for a cabinet session this week, stressing that he has the jurisdiction is setting the agenda.

“We don't want to violate the jurisdiction of the premier, but we refuse to be excluded,” Bou Saab noted.

“No one can exclude any party in the country, the solution should be through dialogue and consensus.”

H.K.

G.K.