Salam: I Prefer to Step Down Instead of Forming a Failed Cabinet

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam stressed that he prefers to step down from his post to form a new cabinet instead of forming one that fails the first test it faces, the As Safir daily quoted him as saying on Saturday.

“I refuse to form a cabinet that fails the first hurdle and I prefer to excuse myself from the mission instead of failing,” he said.

Salam, who was nominated this month to form a new cabinet, has taken a firm stand to form a government of national interest with a homogeneous team of ministers not involved in politics and that would guarantee fair parliamentary elections.

However, he faces a difficult task in light of the March 8 alliance's insistence to form a national unity cabinet and the March 14 coalition's call for a government whose members are not running in the elections.

Salam told the daily that he is ready to hear the opinions of all parties, slamming media reports claiming he rejected to set a meeting with the March 8 alliance and caretaker Energy Minister Jebran Bassil, saying: “I await their visit at any time they wish in order to listen to their viewpoints.”

“I am a consensual person and everyone knows that,” he said.

“The national interest I seek can only be achieved through consensus. I will not contact each bloc or figure separately, like my predecessors did, in order to avoid political debates or a possible quota formula that could lead to an inharmonious cabinet,” he added.

On fears that a cabinet cannot be lined-up if consultations with political parties did not take place, Salam stressed: “I am ready to hold consultations with everyone.”