Salam 'Disgusted' and 'Concerned' over Cabinet Crisis

Prime Minister Tammam Salam has expressed “disgust” and “concern” over the failure to bridge the gap between the bickering sides in the government.

Local dailies quoted officials who have visited Salam as saying that the premier is “disgusted” from the situation after extensive consultations between the different parties failed to bring viewpoints closer.

He is also “concerned” because the meetings he has held have not yielded any formula that would help the government function in a productive way, they said.

The cabinet crisis grew earlier this month when Free Patriotic Movement Minister Jebran Bassil bickered with Salam during a session after accusing him of infringing on the Christian president's powers in the absence of a head of state.

The dispute was accompanied by a protest held near the Grand Serail by FPM supporters.

Sources close to Salam did not rule out a resignation by the PM to object the “paralysis” caused by the FPM.

However, they told several dailies published on Thursday that Salam would pave the way for discussion on the cabinet's decision-making mechanism which the FPM has conditioned to be at the top of the agenda.

If discussions continue in vain, then he would hold the parties paralyzing the cabinet responsible for the deadlock, said the sources.

Salam will not give up his authorities as prime minister and rejects paralysis, they stressed. “He is ready to accept any mechanism on condition that it does not obstruct the decisions taken by the government.”

“From now on, he won't accept the paralysis of the cabinet even if it costs him his resignation,” the sources said.

They added that “the situation is getting from bad to worse.”