Salam Determined to End Cabinet Deadlock amid Ongoing Presidential Vacuum

Prime Minister Tammam Salam carried out the necessary contacts with the political arch-foes to resolve the cabinet impasse as he is determined to reach common ground regarding all disputes hindering the work of the authorities during the ongoing presidential vacuum.

Sources close to Salam told al-Joumhouria newspaper published on Tuesday that the rival parties agreed to abandon all disputable articles during cabinet sessions.

The sources however didn't disclose the adopted mechanism that would regulate the government’s work during the ongoing presidential vacuum.

The cabinet is expected to meet on Thursday with 27 articles on its agenda but will not discuss any controversial items.

The cabinet assumes the executive tasks of the president as stated by the constitution until a new head of state is elected.

Lebanon has been plunged into a leadership vacuum after Michel Suleiman's presidential term ended on May 25 with rival political blocs still divided over a new leader.

Over the past two months the parliament convened seven times to try to elect a successor to Suleiman but failed during the last six sessions due to a lack of quorum.

H.K.

G.K.