Salam Meets Suleiman, Eyes National Interest in Cabinet Formation

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam denied on Wednesday that he will be forming a de facto cabinet, stressing that he supports “a council of ministers that serves the national interest.”

"A cabinet will be formed and everything that has been said in the past few days on the government's formation is not correct,” Salam said after holding talks with President Michel Suleiman at Baabda Palace.

He stressed: "There will not be a de facto cabinet.”

The premier-designate elaborated saying that he is “committed to forming a national unity cabinet that serves Lebanon's interests.”

He noted : “We will work on forming a cabinet that satisfies the Lebanese people and we encourage cooperation and the support of President Suleiman.”

"All cabinets are political cabinets but factions like to label them and all I see is a government that serves the national interest. A neutral cabinet means that its ministers are not partisans and do not have a political affiliation but they want the national interest.”

Salam continued: "I have been at the same distance from all political factions since being named to form a cabinet. I have my own independence and freedom because I was named to form the cabinet by 124 MPs and my goal is the national interest.”

“Political factions have the right to ask for what they see as satisfying their interests and it is my right to perceive the national interest before any personal gains,” he remarked.