Salam Says Christians Not Satisfied with FPM's Actions

Prime Minister Tammam Salam has expressed confidence that Lebanon's Christians were not satisfied with the protests led by the Free Patriotic Movement of MP Michel Aoun against him.

“ I am sure through the reactions I have heard that the Christians were not satisfied with what the FPM did,” Salam, told his visitors, according to al-Joumhouria daily published on Wednesday.

“For example, many (officials who are) friends with Aoun telephoned me to say they support me,” said Salam.

A cabinet session that was held last Thursday became stormy after Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, who is Aoun's son-in-law, began talking about the infringement on the Christian president’s powers in the absence of a head of state.

The tension between Salam and Bassil was accompanied by a protest by FPM supporters near the Grand Serail where the session was underway.

The FPM claims that it is working for the restoration of Christian rights.

Salam vowed to stop Lebanon from entering “the circle of danger.”

“I will oversee the government's work until we all reach our objective to elect a new president,” he told his visitors.

Differences between the March 8 and 14 alliances have left Baabda Palace vacant since the term of President Michel Suleiman ended in May 2014.

The presidential vacuum has caused the paralysis of parliament and led to deep divisions among cabinet ministers.

Salam asked himself whether he was responsible for the current stalemate, but said: “I tried in vain to avert the problem.”

“I held onto the consensus mechanism on taking decisions to avoid voting, and so that all parties participate in decision-making,” he said.

Despite the stormy session last week, the cabinet reached a compromise that allowed Salam to pass one item on the agenda, while the FPM ministers received a pledge to discuss the government’s decision-making mechanism at a session next Thursday.

G.K.

D.A.