Salam Hints Cabinet Formation Efforts Reached a Standstill
Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam has ruled out a new cabinet line-up before the Eid al-Fitr holiday, describing his mission to put together a government as “difficult.”
In remarks to al-Liwaa daily published on Saturday, Salam said the cabinet will not witness light within two weeks, a sign that his efforts to form the government have reached a standstill over the rejection of any party to make compromises.
“The mission is difficult without any doubt,” he said.
Salam hoped that he would reach the expected result without revealing the outcome of his consultations with the different parties and President Michel Suleiman.
His remarks came as sources close to Salam insisted that giving portfolios to party members would bring the 8-year dispute between the Lebanese to the government table.
Salam wants to form a neutral cabinet of 24 members, giving the March 8 and March 14 alliances and the centrists 8 ministers each.
But conditions and counter-conditions have brought his mission to a standstill.
Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun from March 8 wants to be represented according to his parliamentary weight while March 14 is calling for keeping Hizbullah away from the cabinet over its role in Syria's war.
Caretaker Minister Wael Abou Faour, who is loyal to centrist Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat, visited Salam on Friday.
But the sources said there was no progress in his cabinet formation efforts despite Jumblat's insistence to play the role of the mediator.
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