Salam: Some Parties Seeking to Keep Resigned Cabinet for Lack of Accountability

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam has denied that certain parties were seeking to thwart his attempts to form the new government, saying the conditions set by them were only aimed at extending the mission of the resigned cabinet.

In remarks to As Safir newspaper published on Tuesday, Salam said he “had a feeling that no one was intentionally seeking to thwart” his mission.

“The explanation to what is happening is that some (parties) are seeking to extend the term of the caretaker government after they felt at ease for lack of accountability in it,” he told the daily.

Salam's press office said in a statement later Tuesday that his remarks to As Safir were not in reference to caretaker Premier Najib Miqati but to several ministers.

Salam reiterated that the delay in the formation of the new cabinet was the result of conditions and counter-conditions set by the different parties.

The Hizbullah-led March 8 alliance wants an all-embracing cabinet while the March 14 coalition is pushing Salam to keep Hizbullah away from the line-up over its participation in the war in Syria alongside troops loyal to President Bashar Assad.

Salam denied receiving orders from Saudi Arabia to keep Hizbullah out. “No one can tell me what I should or shouldn't do.”

“I haven't been informed about a Saudi veto about Hizbullah's participation in the cabinet,” he said.

The PM-designate stressed that he “only receives instructions from the national interest,” which he said is “the only criterion that controls the (government) formation process.”

He stressed the importance of having a balanced government, saying the “crisis of confidence” among the Lebanese is increasing his conviction of giving centrists more power.

Salam reiterated that it was necessary to have ministers who do not constitute a provocation to the rest of the parties.

He warned “those seeking to transfer the crisis from the streets to the institutions, and specifically the executive authority,” saying such a move “would paralyze the government.”