Salam Laments Standstill but Says Door is Open to Consultations to Resolve Crisis
Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam has lamented that the cabinet crisis has been further deadlocked by the conditions set by Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun.
In remarks to several local dailies published on Friday, officials close to Salam said: “There was no particular political activity yesterday.”
“The past few hours were characterized by a standstill,” they said.
“But the doors haven't been shut to the ongoing negotiations” to form the new government, the officials told the newspapers.
They denied that Salam proposed a line-up to President Michel Suleiman during their last meeting on Wednesday.
“But there were consultations on some names,” they said.
The PM-designate has informed some parties about the possible distribution of portfolios but he hasn't received any names from them, the officials said.
Salam is insisting on the rotation of portfolios among sects and political parties in a 24-member government based on the 8-8-8 formula.
But Aoun is sticking to his demand to retain the energy and telecommunications portfolios.
Caretaker Energy Minister Jebran Bassil, who is Aoun's son-in-law, said Thursday that the FPM wanted a sovereign portfolio and the energy and telecommunications ministries, in addition to a fourth portfolio.
He rejected accusations that their stance was impeding the cabinet formation process.
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