Saniora Calls for 'Homogenous' Cabinet to Hold Elections

Al-Mustaqbal bloc leader Fouad Saniora hoped on Sunday for a “homogenous group” in the government that Premier-designate Tammam Salam will start forming next week.

“We should unite and help the formation of the cabinet,” Saniora told his visitors in Sidon.

“We are now in a new stage in Lebanon’s history and have an opportunity … to limit tension and bring a homogenous group to the government away from tension between (the rival) parties,” he said.

Saniora said the new government should implement the policy of distancing Lebanon from the Syrian crisis in a sound way and create hope on its ability to resolve economic and social problems.

Beirut MP Tammam Salam was tasked by President Michel Suleiman on Saturday with forming the new government.

Salam, who is the son of former PM Saeb Salam, will hold two days of consultations with parliamentary blocs on Tuesday to discuss with them the type of the government and the division of portfolios.

Salam said he would do his best to form a "national interest government.”

Saniora reiterated to his visitors on Sunday that al-Mustaqbal movement wants the new cabinet's main task to be the organization of the parliamentary elections after helping the rival parties in clinching a deal on a new electoral draft-law.

He stressed that the members of the government should not be candidates for the elections as Salam has promised.

Saniora warned against postponing the elections for a longer period, saying it would be tantamount to the announcement of Lebanon as a “failed state.”

President Michel Suleiman signed on Saturday a decree that postpones the parliamentary elections that were set to be held on June 9 for one week.

The deadline for submitting the nominations for the June 16 polls was also extended from April 10 to 24.