Report: Cabinet Witnessing 'Unfavorable' Times, Salam Will not Step down

The upcoming cabinet meeting will take place as scheduled particularly that each of the ministers, except for the Free Patriotic Movement, have committed to attend, as sources assured that Prime Minister Tammam Salam will not step down and will continue to assume responsibilities, ministerial sources told al-Joumhouria daily on Tuesday.

“Culture Minister Rony Araiji, the representative of the Marada Movement in the cabinet, told Prime Minister Tammam Salam that he will meet the calls for a cabinet meeting whenever an invitation is addressed,” sources close to Salam told the daily.

Ministers of the FPM, Tashnaq and Hizbullah boycotted the latest cabinet meeting.

The FPM claims that the government is not abiding by the National Pact and its ministers have vowed to boycott future sessions.

The FPM announced earlier that it has started mobilizing for street protests on September 28 and October 13 as part of its escalatory steps that are aimed at pressing the other parties in the country to “abide by the National Pact.”

FPM chief Jebran Bassil has threatened that the FPM would “topple the government” through street protests if the other parties do not heed the movement's demand regarding “partnership” and the National Pact.

Assessing the general situation of the cabinet, sources to Salam expressed disapproval and said: “The government is living the worst days and there is no reason to get into something worse. Every previous pledge (by politicians) to provide a minimum level of governmental solidarity has evaporated. There are those who reneged on the promises made, and overlooked them for personal reasons that have no links to national interest.”

“PM Salam will not back down on what he promised no matter what the cost is at the personal level,” added the sources.

The Prime Minister will continue to assume his responsibility to the end, and these responsibilities will be ended or determined only by the election of a president.