Salam Rejects to Become 'Guardian of Paralysis' amid Fears of Major Crisis
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Prime Minister Tammam Salam intensified on Wednesday his efforts to avert a major political crisis over threats made by the Free Patriotic Movement to resort to the streets in defense of Christian rights.
Al-Mustaqbal daily on Wednesday quoted Salam's sources as saying that the PM “rejects to engage in a row with anyone yet he cannot meet the demands of six ministers and ignore the requests of another 18 ministers.”
Salam rejects to become the “guardian of paralysis,” they said, adding that he is eager to assume his responsibilities as the head of the 24-member government.
On Tuesday, FPM chief MP Michel Aoun slammed Salam and accused him of acting as if he were president.
Following the weekly meeting of his Change and Reform bloc, the lawmaker said Article 62 of the Constitution stipulates that the president's powers would be “delegated to the cabinet in the event of a presidential void.”
“But today the ministers are breaching this jurisdiction and the premier has assumed two roles -- his role and the role of the president -- and this is unacceptable,” he added.
Aoun called for a “fateful battle” and urged his supporters to resort to the streets. But such action depends on the outcome of Thursday's cabinet session.
FPM ministers backed by their allies in Hizbullah, the Tashnag Party and Marada Movement want the government to discuss the appointment of high-ranking security and military officials.
The failure to discuss the issue is threatening to paralyze the cabinet and further expanding Lebanon's political crisis which was caused as a result of the vacuum at the presidential palace last year and the parliamentary paralysis that ensued.
In their remarks to al-Mustaqbal, Salam's sources said that so far 14 cabinet ministers, including two Christians, have signed on a decree to open an extraordinary parliamentary session.
But the PM wants the signatures of more Christian ministers to guarantee the right balance, they said.
Despite the looming crisis, Salam's sources told al-Joumhouria daily that political parties would not topple the cabinet or any other constitutional institution.
The premier is expected to hold more intense meetings to avert a showdown during Thursday's session.
G.K.
D.A.
08 July 2015, 12:44
28
why? you think geagea will once again ally with syria and help them invade lebanon to usurp aoun's place?
08 July 2015, 12:46
28
in the mean time salam claims he doesnt want to be the guardian of this paralysis, but he is the one who benefits the most from it. as long as no president is elected he de facto holds the position. and his saudi allies are very happy, they control both the government and the presidency with only one pawn.
08 July 2015, 13:36
81
Mowaten, you're an interesting person: you said Geagea...., yet I wonder what you're doing receiving weapons from Al Assad and Iran, and what you're doing fighting on his side in Syria then to Yemen,...???!!! Just remember that what is good for the goose is also good for the gander, and what kills the goose will also kill the gander. Sometimes you do make us wonder.
08 July 2015, 14:20
70
@barking.m14er. I know that you are just another Yellow Troll, obviously the Naharnet is too busy sleeping long hours these days. Don't worry, but what I am trying to say, what you are doing is truly unfair to people like Mowaten and Mystic, if you caught my drift.
08 July 2015, 14:21
60
Mowaten, are you there? You need to talk to the troll that calls itself@barking.m14er, manna mazbouta menno abadan.
09 July 2015, 08:04
10
he is the same troll you are asking him to control. This evil troll has no life, no family, no job.
08 July 2015, 13:06
82
"Salam Rejects to Become 'Guardian of Paralysis'"
Why don't you change it to "Salam rejects becoming ..."
08 July 2015, 19:12
10
The yellow and orange trolls are very unhappy with us today, cowards.
