Salam: New Govt. Should Be Able to Stage Presidential Elections, Approve Electoral Law

Prime Minister Tammam Salam expressed on Saturday his confidence that the newly-formed cabinet will be able to meet constitutional deadlines and its national duties.

He said shortly after the formation of the new government: “The new cabinet should be able to stage the presidential elections on time and approve a new parliamentary electoral law.”

“A lot of effort, patience, and flexibility was needed to form the government of national interests,” he remarked from the Baabda Palace after he held talks with President Michel Suleiman and Speaker Nabih Berri.

“The portfolios were distributed in a manner that achieves national partnership and respects the rotation of power,” he stressed.

Moreover, he stated that this cabinet “should be able to resume the national dialogue, stage the presidential elections, and reach an agreement over a new parliamentary electoral law.”

Salam urged the political powers to cooperate in order to tackle pending issues in Lebanon, most notably the security instability.

He also hoped that they would back the army in its mission to maintain peace and safeguard Lebanon from regional conflicts, as well as combat terrorism and cater to the concerns of Syrian refugees.

“The trust exhibited by the political powers leads us to be optimistic over the future of this government and Lebanon's future,” said the prime minister.

“We have thorny road ahead of us, but our cooperation will help us overcome obstacles,” he stated.

A 24-minister cabinet was announced on Saturday, nearly 11 months after Salam's appointment and after arduous negotiations with the rival political powers.