Geagea Considers Salam Candidacy 'Molded Locally,' Praises March 14 Decision

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea hailed the decision taken by the March 14 alliance to name Beirut MP Tammam Salam to the premiership, describing the choice of his nomination as “manufactured locally.”

“Salam is a moderate person and has characteristics that we are desperately in need of,” Geagea said in comments to al-Akhbar newspaper.

The Christian leader denied that Salam was selected by Saudi Arabia, saying: “When the cabinet (led by caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati) resigned we discussed the nomination of several figures including Salam.”

Asked about the nature of the government that the LF is seeking to form, Geagea pointed out that a neutral cabinet that is capable of overseeing the upcoming parliamentary elections is the appropriate choice.

“We want the formation of a government that is able to resolve the security and economy crises,” he added.

Concerning reports saying that the March 8 coalition will not participate in the binding consultations with President Michel Suleiman on Friday and Saturday to name the new PM-designate, Geagea said that “the boycott will not be reasonable.”

The resignation of Miqati in March came hours after President Michel Suleiman suspended cabinet sessions for failing to pass a decision on the formation of an elections committee to supervise the upcoming parliamentary polls.

The March 14 alliance named on Thursday Salam to the premiership in a meeting at the Center House.

Media reports have said that the MP will likely receive the backing of the majority of parliamentary blocs and independent MPs during the two-days of binding consultations at Baabda palace .

On the fate of the new electoral, Geagea said that the “priority is to adopt an electoral law and to hold elections.”

The recent meeting at Bkirki is a positive step to reach agreement over a consensual draft-law.

The rival parties have so far failed to agree on an electoral draft-law after the leaders and representatives of the Free Patriotic Movement, the Lebanese Forces, the Phalange Party and the Marada Movement agreed to suspend the so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal on Monday, leaving the door open for rival MPs to strike a deal on a new electoral draft-law.

The proposal, which had been severely rejected by Jumblat's bloc, considers Lebanon a single district and allows each sect to vote for its own MPs under a proportional presentational system.

The LF chief reiterated his rejection to extending the tenure of the current parliament, noting that “only a technical extension would be acceptable.”

Suleiman and Miqati have signed a decree that sets the elections on June 9 according to the 1960 law, which is based on winner-takes-all system, over the lack of agreement between the bickering parliamentary blocs.

Their call have drawn the ire of the March 8 majority coalition, which has totally rejected the law.