Salam Slams March 8, Says he's Not Responsible for Cabinet Formation Impasse
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam denied accusations by the March 8 coalition that he is responsible for the cabinet formation impasse, pointing out that he didn't set any previous conditions.
“I am basing my decision on the nation's best interest. I only care about forming a productive cabinet,” Salam said in an interview with As Safir newspaper.
He expressed fear that there “might be a previous decision to block the government formation,” noting that there “are some parties that prefer that the vacuum continues.”
Salam expressed surprise that the March 8 coalition reject that he would be their guarantee as he belongs to the rival March 14 alliance, reiterating that he would resign if any main bloc quits the government.
“If I was still a part of the March 14 coalition would I give such a commitment,” the PM-designate told the daily.
He revealed that was criticized by some sides in the March 14 camp over his stance.
Salam, since his appointment to form a cabinet in April, is seeking the formation of a 24-member cabinet in which the March 8, March 14 and centrists camps would each get eight ministers.
He is also rejecting granting veto power to any power, which the March 8 camp has been demanding.
The March 14 coalition is meanwhile calling for keeping Hizbullah out of the cabinet over its role in Syria's war.
Salam called on the political foes to felicitate the formation of the government, describing the 8-8-8 formula as “realistic.”
He also urged Hizbullah to deal with him in a different manner.
Salam praised Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's recent speech, considering that it was “good.”
However, Salam criticized Nasrallah's remarks that he would personally fight in Syria.
A defiant Nasrallah said on Friday he himself was ready to go and fight in Syria against radical Islamists.
“Military intervention will negatively impact Lebanon,” Salam told As Safir.
He noted that all the Lebanese are against takfiris and no one justifies their acts.
The official stressed that the blast that hit Beirut's southern suburbs neighborhood of Ruwais “requires all political parties to facilitate the formation of his cabinet and compromise.”
The Ruwais blast claimed the lives of 27 people and wounded more than 336 other.
The casualty toll is the highest in Lebanon since a massive car bomb attack on the Beirut seafront killed former prime minister Rafik Hariri and 22 others in February 2005.
20 August 2013, 09:49
313
To hell with that senile in rabieh, the illiterate in Ehden and ali baba nasrallah plus all their lackeys... They rendered Lebanon into another Somalia... They are fueling the mayhem in Syria... Their actions are destroying whatever is left of this country... They staged May 8, they closed downtown for two years and destroyed it financially and now they chased out the Gulf states who are the ones keeping Lebanon alive and putting bread on our tables... They even kept the Lebanese expatriates out of Lebanon... Those pricks are no lebanese patriots when they pledge their allegiance to the murdering despot in Danascus and the turbaned pigs in Persia... TRAITORS is what they are...
20 August 2013, 11:07
84
@batman
who asked your opinion?
who do you think you are?
what have YOU done for your country?
spilling poison like the above comment makes you no better than Al Assir!
it is no wonder that Lebanon is a jungle. it takes two to tango M14 and M8 are as bad (and judging by your comment, you are a typical M14 - blind in one eye).
what a coincidence that ALL M14 are billionaires! I can name names here and net worths of M14 politicians, but Naharnet is not the right place
20 August 2013, 15:21
01
Who asked for yours ???? What is this forum for Einstein...???? And list what you have done for yours Mr Clean... I pay taxes and probably more than you... That gives me the right to speak my mind and every citizen should speak his mind... I am also a US citizen and I practice my rights and vote... I never voted in Lebanon because the whole process is a fraud... And obviously you don't believe in freedom of speech which must make you a follower of those "morons" I mentioned and you obviously idolize... Berri, Bassil, Franjieh must have won the Lotto... Right?
20 August 2013, 11:46
62
Salam is responsible for not forming a cabinet by disregarding Dr. Arreet 7akeh's ultimatum to form or fold BY FIVE FRIDAYS AGO. Dr. Arreet 7akeh is going to punish him very severely, and deservedly, by increasing his daily BS extravaganza to bi-daily. If Salam continues with his irresponsible behavior, the Doc of Bull will extend his show to weekends, too, with special appearances by his double, Dr. Ahmad al-Asir. wa qad ou3zira man anzara
20 August 2013, 12:01
17
Nabih Berri is very rich, where did he get all his money
The Same can be said for Michel Aoun and his inlaws,the incompetent engineer
whose is financing all the private TV sations OTV, MTV surely not the lebanese
20 August 2013, 12:37
23
@ cleanleb
May I remind you that politics in Lebanon is a business investment? M8 and M14 are just as corrupt. They get wealthier by the day. We need clean lebs to run the country
Will it ever happen? I keep dreaming....
20 August 2013, 12:58
11
i do not disagree with you...
but why do Lebanese accept this and keep voting for the same crooks?
who is going to change our legal system and constitution?
to make things worse the majority of the population is cursing each other (and leaders) while they live in this mess of a country.
will Lebanon change for the better by itself??? If not, who will start the ball rolling?
20 August 2013, 15:49
11
A revolution of sorts is impossible in Lebanon due to the highly sectarian nature of the populace. This charade will continue much to the chagrin of many until the dinosaurs die, as they say -- and perhaps even afterwards.
20 August 2013, 15:51
15
the taef accord which is part of our constitution and registered at the UN, does not stipulate at all that representation in a cabinet should be according to the parliament presence.
the cabinet formation has one restriction: represent all sects accordingly.
thus the proposal of Salam is in accordance with the constitution.
However, the presence of illegal weapons with hizbushaitan, and their constant threats of using them against the Lebanese, are being used to circumvent the constitution.
this terrorist Iranian militia is acting like an occupying force, and they should be eradicated.
20 August 2013, 17:33
24
Only illiterate and uneducated M8'ers think that the cabinet is supposed to be a proportional representation of the parliament. If this were the case then there would be no point in a government in the first place. This is basic politics. But then most Hezbo supporters spend their days on the street acting like thugs than at home reading a book or doing actual work.
20 August 2013, 17:37
15
The 8-8-8 solution proposed by Salam is the best way to pull our economy out of the mud and to curb the bickering and time-wasting that happens currently between M8 and M14. The fact that M8 want to preserve the same balance we have now is because they are gambling on Syria and waiting for Assad to re-enter the Lebanese political scene. Traitors, traitors, traitors.
