Suleiman: Committing to Lebanon More Important than Hanging on to Specific Minister
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
President Michel Suleiman deemed on Sunday as “shameful” the ongoing delay in the formation of a new government.
He said: “Committing to Lebanon is more important than hanging on to a specific minister.”
He made his remarks in an indirect reference to the Free Patriotic Movement's demands that it retain the Energy Ministry portfolio in the new cabinet.
“Flaws have emerged in the manner in which we are managing political affairs,” Suleiman said ahead of attending the Saint Maroun feast day mass held at Mar Maroun Church in Gemmayzeh in Beirut.
The mass was headed by Beirut Maronite Bishop Boulos Matar and attended by Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam, Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji, and a number of officials.
Suleiman added: “Constitutional deadlines must be met because the people's livelihoods are at risk.”
“A government that meets their aspirations should be formed,” he demanded.
“The delay is not justified because the internal conditions to form it are ripe,” noted the president.
“We must demonstrate our democratic merits,” he stressed.
“We must demonstrate that we are capable of managing our country and institutions by ourselves,” declared Suleiman.
Since his appointment in April, Salam has failed to form a new government due to the ongoing disputes between the March 8 and 14 camps.
The political forces are however leaning towards the formation of a government that grants eight ministers to each of the March 8 and 14 camps and centrists.
Disputes have emerged however over the distribution of portfolios.
The March 14 camp has been demanding that it be granted the Interior and Defense Ministries portfolios.
Matar meanwhile called during the mass for prayers “to end the wave of violence that is threatening to create strife in Lebanon.”
“Strife will fail if we remain united,” he stressed, while hailing the Bkirki treaty, “which calls for all sides to cooperate to save Lebanon from dangers that are threatening it.”
“Saving Lebanon lies in preserving its constitution and national structure and essence,” he stated.
09 February 2014, 11:53
612
Very good stances mr president... Truelly, impressed...
Plus one for u man, keep it up..
Now if u can push for a technocrates cabinet instead...
09 February 2014, 16:38
65
Short memories indeed. Sleiman initially was vetoed by M8 but after he and the army allowed May 7th to take place, he was HA blue eyed baby. Now, he no longer suits your agenda . Bunch of hypocrites
09 February 2014, 17:09
63
Ahleen tfaddal, every chance President Suleiman gets he insists on the fact that he is against an extension of his mandate just like he was against the extension of the parliaments mandate, of course he tried to constitutionally challenge that but someone sabotaged the Constitutional Council.
Nevertheless not that I doubt for a minute that Suleiman was posturing for an extension of his mandate, but I am yet to see paper proof of said ambition or said wish . All I want is genuine proof.
09 February 2014, 18:47
61
Athal keefak, I'm sorry you fail again..
President Michel Sleiman submitted an appeal before the Constitutional Council, challenging the parliament's decision to extend its mandate for 17 months, after the decision has been made official through its publication in the official Gazette on Saturday 01 Jun 2013
you see he did issued a ta3n against it didn't he, wikileaks are no proof but hearsay at best. Hence, no credibility. Still waiting for your paper (or electronic) proof.
09 February 2014, 13:17
00
Oh shut up Mr. President.
It is shameful to change the minister of the only working ministry that has the potential of saving Lebanon of its debt!!!
I'm keen to know the percentage of the population you represent!
09 February 2014, 13:46
00
Mr. the President, why always Christian need to accept conditions put on them ? Can't wait the moment you will leave because the most disgusting thing on earth Mr the President is.....weakness
09 February 2014, 14:13
44
.. الحرب الباردة .. والساخنة .. لا تزال مشتعلة بين الكبار ... ونحن .. لا نزال حفنة من الصغار الحمقى المتغطرسين .... ونتوهم ...
09 February 2014, 14:17
54
“Committing to Lebanon is more important than hanging on to a specific minister.”
but ministers do not commit to Lebanon, they commit to how much a ministry will earn them money.... with the full support of the lebanese....
09 February 2014, 16:19
00
What else do we expect to hear from a good-for-nothing Christian Sunni president-by-parachute?
09 February 2014, 16:47
54
the only pb is that it is the PM that forms a cabinet, not leaders of political parties... so it is up to them to follow the PM not the other way round, no?
09 February 2014, 17:05
45
I would give the lunatic his portfolio (language) and deport him back to Paris, or maybe Iran.
09 February 2014, 17:49
54
Not that I doubt for a minute that Bassil is white as snow, and the real estate he's owned since 2006 including a new luxury apartment building in Bayada Metn (not many of those there easy to for you check) I personally visited in 2009 when I returned to LB, he won them all in a lucky scratcher, although..
he'd originally proposed leasing two power-generating ships at a cost of $870 million. Mikati refused to sign it. So Bassil came back just a couple of weeks later with a $360 million contract for the same two ships from the same company. That's a $510 million difference. I'm sure the first contrast submitted by Bassil was an innocent mistake, obviously his abacus was running on low batteries causing the over instated price.
09 February 2014, 18:55
51
It's 001 Cemetery Lane. No Seriously you want an address in Bayada? The whole place is a few streets. You've either never been to Lebanon and Bayada in particular or you're just trying to be cute. I'm guessing both.
09 February 2014, 20:10
31
Energy Minister Gibran Bassil, one of 10 ministers representing Aoun’s bloc, had originally proposed leasing two power-generating ships, which have a capacity of close to 300 MW at a cost of $870 million.
However, Mikati had expressed reservations over Bassil’s proposal, arguing that the cost of renting the ships would be too great, a claim disputed by Bassil’s camp. Mikati presented an offer from a foreign firm to build a power-generating plant within a year at a cost less than that of leasing the ships as per Bassil’s plan.
But Bassil responded Tuesday by saying Mikati’s proposal lacked “seriousness and professionalism,” and warned of dire consequences should his proposal be rejected in favor of the prime minister’s.
www.dailystar.com.lb
09 February 2014, 21:52
00
When i take vacation my Boss insist to deliver my work to someone he delegate him, and then he knows during my vacation more deeply about my work, my point is rotation is important so the new minister can tell if old minister stealing Lebanese money or not.
10 February 2014, 07:35
00
all ministries and government agency should be audited. But why are you pinpointing Bassil in particular. He has been doing a great job. Yet he is constantly the target of critics and blockades hindering his work. His reform of EDL, reduction of number of employee, privatization of EDL network management, his management of the gaz and petroleum exploration, etc… are an excellent proof of the exemplarity of his work
10 February 2014, 07:37
20
The ministry of public works can be even more of a public earner yet Aoun is not asking for this ministry. The fact is that Bassil and Sehnaoui have done a very good job and Aoun wants to keep those credit for himself or for the FPM.
