Salam Blames 'Political Appetite' for Cabinet Formation Delay

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam slammed on Thursday political parties involved in the cabinet formation process for having a “political appetite” that has stopped him from coming up with a line-up since his appointment in April.

Efforts to form the government are ongoing amid a “series of conditions and counterconditions that haven't stopped and haven't taken a respite for five months,” said Salam at Baabda Palace following talks with President Michel Suleiman.

“I am still enduring … But as long as the people have confidence in me and the president is dealing with me positively and constructively, then I will continue to exert my efforts,” he said.

But Salam stressed that “all those who have a role in the cabinet formation process shouldn't have an open political appetite.”

“There is an unfortunate situation. The political parties that are unconvinced and have different standards are not easy to deal with,” he told reporters at the presidential palace.

His remarks came a day after Hizbullah deputy chief Sheikh Naim Qassem said that “things were back to square one.”

He also accused the March 14 alliance of not changing its conditions.

Qassem reiterated Hizbullah's demand for a government in which all political parties are represented in accordance to their weight in parliament, pouring cold water on the 24-member cabinet suggested by Salam.

Asked about his talks with Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat, Salam said “the meeting wasn't the first and wouldn’t be the last.”

“He still has an influential and a huge role” in the cabinet formation process, Salam said. “I thank him for that.”

Al-Joumhouria daily said Thursday that Jumblat briefed the PM-designate on the results of the discussions that caretaker Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour held with Saudi officials in Riyadh.

Abou Faour regularly visits the Saudi capital as a PSP envoy. Jumblat, who is a centrist, has promised to facilitate the formation of the cabinet