Al-Rahi Calls for Granting Cabinet Vote of Confidence

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi urged on Sunday officials to grant the cabinet of Prime Minister Tammam Salam the vote of confidence after grueling discussions that concluded nearly 10-month consultations to form his cabinet and deep rift concerning the policy statement.

He wondered during Sunday's mass sermon if the Lebanese officials realize the damage inflicted to the country's economy, society, security and administration by their ongoing conflicts.

He expressed surprise that the rift between the political arch-foes is over the state becoming a sole reference.

Al-Rahi voiced hope that “those who are loyal to Lebanon and the state would end the bleeding, rectify the needed, explain the vague and grant the cabinet the confidence vote.”

The Patriarch called on the government to restore the people's trust in their state and oversee the upcoming presidential election, which should be carried out within the constitutional timeframe.

Al-Rahi called on officials to end “negligence” in public sectors, “corruption, bribery, embezzlement of public funds... injustice, tyranny and arrogance.”

The cabinet's policy statement was adopted by the cabinet late Friday after almost one month of discussions and a deadlock on the resistance clause.

The three Phalange ministers - Ramzi Greij, Sejaan Qazzi and Alain Hakim – and Minister Ashraf Rifi, who represents al-Mustaqbal movement in the cabinet have voiced reservations over the contentious issue of the resistance and the role of the state in confronting Israel.

Speaker Nabih Berri had called parliament to convene on March 19 and 20 to discuss the statement and later subject cabinet to a vote of confidence.

On Saturday night, the Phalange party warned following a meeting that its ministers in Salam's government will resign before a parliamentary vote of confidence if the policy statement wasn't amended.