Suleiman Demands Salam to Swiftly Form Cabinet to End Vacuum

President Michel Suleiman called on Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam to swiftly form his cabinet as the ongoing vacuum has a negative impact on the situation in the country.

“The situation requires all the political powers to take decisive stances,” Suleiman said according to al-Joumhouria newspaper published on Thursday.

Suleiman's envoy, former Minister Khalil al-Hrawi, told the newspaper that he will carry on with his consultations with the political foes.

The daily reported that Hrawi held separate talks on Wednesday with Salam and al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc leader MP Fouad Saniora.

Hrawi told the newspaper that he will hold further talks with various political leader to reach common grounds over the disputable matters.

The PM-designate's efforts to form a new government came to a halt in recent weeks in light of the dispute over the extension of parliament's mandate and the political powers' failure to reach an agreement over a new parliamentary electoral law.

Salam will launch new consultations with various political powers to garner their views over the new government after the legislature extended its term for 17 months.

The formation dispute is lingering over the blocking third, which Salam rejects granting it to any party, saying it would paralyze the government.

The extension decision comes after rival blocs in the legislature failed to agree on a new elections law.

Free Patriotic Movement led by MP Michel Aoun and Suleiman submitted an appeal to challenge the parliament's decision to extend its mandate.