Salam Briefs Suleiman on Cabinet Formation Consultations

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam held talks on Wednesday with President Michel Suleiman to brief him on the latest discussions concerning the formation of the cabinet.

Salam left the Baabda Palace without making any statement as media reports said that the meeting last half an hour.

Media reports said earlier on Wednesday that a meeting held between Salam and a delegation from the March 8 coalition failed to achieve a breakthrough concerning the formation of the cabinet.

According to As Safir newspaper, both sides held on to their stances concerning the formation process despite their keenness to announce that the meeting was “positive.”

The newspaper said that the delegation urged Salam to give the March 8 camp an effective participation in his government, however it avoided demanding for veto power or a blocking third.

Sources close to the alliance told the newspaper that the March 8 alliance considers that it is its simplest right is to be given 10 portfolios but it would accept being granted 9 to facilitate the matter on Salam.

Salam, according to sources close to him, rejected granting the blocking third to the March 14 or 8 alliances.

The delegation was comprised ministers Ali Qansou, Ali Hasan Khalil, Jebran Bassil and Marwan Kheireddine; MP Hagop Pakradonian; and Hizbullah leader's political assistant Hussein Khalil.

Salam has announced that he wants to form a 24-member government with rotational portfolios. He has also rejected having electoral candidates in the executive authority whose only mission would be the supervision of the parliamentary elections.

An Nahar newspaper reported that another meeting will be held between Salam and the delegation soon.

Salam also held talks with Progressive Socialist Party Caretaker Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour on Tuesday night.

According to An Nahar daily, the meeting tackled the latest developments concerning the formation process.