Phalange Party Urges End to Preconditions over Cabinet's Formation, Calls on Parties to Heed Suleiman's Talks Call

The Phalange Party on Monday urged political factions to accept the formations of a cabinet that is capable of confronting the current “exceptional situation” in the country, warning of a vacuum in the state.

"The formation of the new cabinet is key for dealing with the current crisis in Lebanon,” the party stated in a released statement after the political bureau's weekly meeting.

It added: “We call for ending all conditions and counter-conditions as well as local and foreign dictations over the government's formation, and instead accept a cabinet that is capable of confronting the current exceptional situation.”

The politburo warned against a plan that would “disable the state from performing its basic duties like guaranteeing security.”

"Vacuum in political and military posts are a result of fabricated and tendentious differences that obstruct the state's work.”

The statement called on parties to heed President Michel Suleiman's calls for resuming the national dialogue.

"We hold on to dialogue and we call for providing the necessary requirements for its success through revising the conclusions of previous sessions, evaluating the current situation and the bitter experiences the country faced, as well as addressing the barriers that stand in the way of reaching purposeful and effective results.”

Suleiman had called on political leaders on Saturday to take part in reviving the national dialogue "to look for the best way to preserve Lebanon's interest and manage its affairs."

The political bureau noted that “Lebanon must seriously deal with and resist to reports saying the country has become a safe haven for Takfiri groups and a warehouse of explosives.”

"Preventive security and preemptive measures to detect terrorist cells before it is too late could be a way to deal with these reports.”

The party called on political factions to "return to the country" and abide by the Baabda Declaration, to save Lebanon from the repercussions of the “painful events” in neighboring Syria.

"We urge taking the issue of the army command's leadership out of political and media discussions and finding legal ways to either extend General Jean Qahwaji's term or changing the retirement age,” the politburo remarked.

"Vacuum in security institutions must be avoided.”

The statement reiterated the party's calls for taking part in workshops to draft a new electoral law “that respects true representation and national partnership.”

"This would shorten the extended mandate of the parliament and hence, enable holding the elections to preserve the voters' rights and the rotation of power.”