Salam Appeases Fears about 'Vacancy' in Baabda

Prime Minister Tammam Salam has expressed surprise at warnings against a vacuum in the presidency, saying there would be only a vacant seat at Baabda Palace if parliament failed to elect a new head of state.

In remarks to As Safir daily published on Tuesday, Salam said: “There is no such thing called vacuum … There is a vacancy in a certain post.”

“There could be a vacancy in the presidency but we prefer that this does not happen,” he said.

“The cabinet which includes almost all the political parties … would fill the vacant post” at Baabda palace if MPs failed to elect a new head of state, he added.

Salam stressed to As Safir that his government will carry out its duties as called for by the Constitution.

“The state's institutions are functioning properly,” he said to appease fears about the “collapse of the state” if parliament was incapable of electing a president by May 25.

He reiterated his call on lawmakers to elect a president who should not be seen as confrontational and should be accepted by the rival parties.

“A vacancy in the presidency will lead to a period of uncertainty on the political level, which may negatively affect several matters, such as the security situation,” he later told the Progressive Socialist Party-affiliated al-Anbaa website.

“A flaw in the presidency may lead to flaws in other areas,” he said.

“It may lead to political disputes between the various powers, especially Christian ones, over the presidency,” remarked the premier.

Salam warned against the negative impact such disputes may have over Lebanon, therefore urging all concerned sides to elect a new president.

“Your excuses that you are incapable of electing a president are unconvincing,” he said.

President Michel Suleiman will leave Baabda Palace at midnight May 24. But the majority of the March 8 alliance's MPs have boycotted the parliamentary sessions aimed at electing a president over differences with the March 14 camp.

A new round of elections is scheduled to be held on Thursday.

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