Salam Holds onto Power, Slams 'Political Trash'
Prime Minister Tammam Salam vowed on Monday not to give up his responsibilities despite anti-government protests that have been shaking the country in the past two weeks.
Salam told the Kuwaiti al-Rai newspaper that he was not surprised by the demonstrations held against the backdrop of a waste crisis that erupted following the closure of the Naameh landfill, south of Beirut, last month.
“I have always warned the political parties not to prolong the paralysis that extended from the presidency, to the parliament and then to the government,” Salam said.
“I have also been warning for the past month against turning our backs to the people's affairs and … making them the victims of score settlement,” the PM told the daily.
Salam said he is neither the leader of a political movement nor part of the patronage system that divvies up power among politicians.
“I am part of the people and I feel their pain. I have struggled to become their voice but the political trash did not pay attention to the people's affairs,” he said.
The solution to the current crises comes through the government's unity and the proposal of a waste management plan which the state would be able to implement, Salam added.
Thousands rallied in downtown Beirut on Saturday over the garbage crisis, chanting "revolution, revolution" and setting a three-day ultimatum for authorities to respond to demands, including the resignation of Environment Minister Mohammed al-Mashnouq.
The government's failure to resolve the trash crisis has evolved into wider protests against the political class that has dominated Lebanon since the end of the country's civil war in 1990 and a government that has failed to provide even basic services to its people.
But al-Mashnouq refused to resign.
In remarks to As Safir newspaper, he said: “I am the only official who is trying to do something to resolve the waste crisis.”
“Most of the political parties are running away from their responsibilities,” he said.
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