Salam Hinges on Efforts of Jumblat and Amal-Hizbullah Officials to Form Cabinet
Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam said he was betting on the efforts exerted by Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat and the advisors of Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Speaker Nabih Berri to clinch a deal on the new government.
In remarks to As Safir daily published on Wednesday, Salam denied that a final agreement has been reached among the rival parties on the form and shape of the cabinet.
“What would we do if the political parties did not reach an agreement? Is it possible for the country to remain without a cabinet?” he wondered.
He told the newspaper that he was hinging on the efforts exerted by Jumblat, Hussein Khalil and Ali Hassan Khalil in the coming days to strike a deal.
The Hizbullah and Amal envoys visited President Michel Suleiman on Tuesday.
Hizbullah's al-Manar TV said that Suleiman agreed to give a chance to discuss the 8-8-8 cabinet lineup but did not commit to ruling out the formation of a neutral government.
“Let's focus on the content of Suleiman's speech,” Salam said.
The president condemned on Monday attempts to link the cabinet formation process to the May presidential election, wondering why can't the Lebanese have a neutral government after 10 months of political vacuum.
“Should we fail to form an all-embracing political cabinet, don't people have the right to contribute to the formation of a neutral government?” he asked.
The formation of the government does not only face the time factor but also the pressing situation, Salam said.
“Nine months after my appointment, we proposed a neutral cabinet. But the March 8 camp expressed readiness to cooperate through Jumblat's mediation,” he said.
“It would be the happiest moment of my life if the political parties agreed on the cabinet formation,” he added.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://naharnet.com/stories/en/113022 |