Salam: Government with a Non-Functioning Cabinet is Useless

Prime Minister Tammam Salam stated on Tuesday that Lebanese politicians must realize that a cabinet that does not convene is useless and urged recognition to the accomplishments made in the food safety file.

“We, as a government, will continue to shoulder responsibility no matter what the difficulties we face are. There is no need for a government without a functioning cabinet,” said Salam during the quality rating of Lebanese restaurants announcement.

“Today the nation needs to carry on with efforts to elect a president,” he stressed.

“There seems to be some faults delays in the completion of the presidential elections, but I hope the efforts do not stop and that something is finalized to restore confidence to the nation.”

Lebanon has been living a 19-month presidential vacuum since the term of president Michel Suleiman ended in May 2014.

Conflict among the rival March 8 and March 14 camps have thwarted all attempts aiming at electing a successor.

Furthermore, Salam hailed the efforts of Health Minister Wael Abou Faour and the accomplishments he made in the food safety campaign that was kicked off over a year ago.

“The food safety campaign has succeeded and so did Lebanon. This success requires perseverance in order for us to move ahead to other ones,” added the PM.

Addressing the civil society activists who kicked off street demonstrations following the eruption of the trash crisis in July, Salam said: “Do not back down from the entitlements and from following up on the state (performance), but at the same time do not give a bad image but do hail the actions.”

“We will be facing a new serious attempt to close a major file that is pressuring us all, and will accept the option to export trash abroad.”

D.A.

M.T.