Plumbly, Eichhorst Meet Salam and Berri, Stress Necessity of 'Quick' Cabinet Formation
U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly and European Union Ambassador Angelina Eichhorst met on Friday with Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam at his residence in Msaytbeh and later on with Speaker Nabih Berri where discussions focused on the importance of forming a new cabinet.
After meeting Salam, Plumbly urged all political parties to hold what he described as “positive” consultations with the PM-designate in order to form a new government as soon as possible.
Plumbly reiterated the U.N.'s support for Salam and the necessity to form the cabinet in order to handle a number of pressing issues mainly the influx of Syrian refugees to Lebanon.
On her part, Eichhorst stated that discussions focused on the efforts exerted by the PM-designate in order to line-up a cabinet.
The ambassador emphasized that the EU backs all ongoing efforts to build on the consensus that agreed to designate Salam to form the cabinet.
At this critical stage, it is necessary for Lebanon to have a cabinet that takes decisions and runs the state to confront all the challenges, said the ambassador.
The EU has long been a supporter of all the successive governments formed over the years, she said, while hoping that efforts continue to reform the country, address social matters, and give the youths what they need in order to achieve their future.
Moreover, after meeting Berri, Plumbly and Eichhorst said in a joint statement “We informed Speaker Berri of our continued strong support for the early conduct of elections in accordance with constitutional requirements and in line with international standards, and our hope that a way forward which ensures this will be agreed.
“We stress again the importance of elections for stability and confidence in the country, and for overcoming the pressing challenges Lebanon faces today."
Consultations are ongoing among the Lebanese foes to reach an agreement on a new electoral law for the upcoming parliamentary elections despite media reports saying that they are already discussing the possibility of extending parliament's tenure.
Speaker Nabih Berri postponed a May 15 parliamentary session, aimed at discussing an electoral law, to allow more consultations over the matter.
The parliament's electoral subcommittee held a meeting at 1:30 p.m. on Friday and is set to hold another session in the afternoon to discuss the hybrid proposals.
On Thursday, the speaker scheduled another parliamentary session for Saturday, which is set to be decisive on whether to extent the parliament's tenure or hold the polls.
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