Salam Says Rival Parties have Last Chance to Seek Consensus over Cabinet
Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam said on Friday that his cabinet will only be formed to oversee the upcoming presidential elections and might have a roll in seeking common grounds over the matter between the Lebanese foes.
“We will give the rival parties a last chance to seek consensus over a new cabinet lineup,” Salam said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.
Salam pointed out he is waiting for the return of President Michel Suleiman, who is currently on a private vacation outside the country, to discuss with the rival parties the cabinet's formula and if it would survive the parliament's confidence vote.
Sources told the newspaper that any “settlement over the cabinet lineup is expected to see the light during the upcoming days.”
“Stability will not occur unless a balanced and acceptable cabinet was formed,” the sources added, calling on the rival parties to agree on any solution that would safeguard the country.
Salam was appointed in April but has so far been unable to put together a government over the conditions and counter conditions set by the rivals parties as fears mount that the differences between the March 8 and 14 camps would lead to a vacuum the presidential post.
Suleiman's six-year tenure ends in May 2014.
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