Naharnet

Report: Safadi to be Named for Premiership after Salam's Cabinet Collapses

Caretaker Finance Minister Mohammed al-Safadi will reportedly be appointed to form a new cabinet after the expected resignation of Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam's government.

According to al-Liwaa newspaper published on Thursday, Safadi will be named by Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, a move that will be supported by his March 8 allies.

However, the sources said that Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat will have reservations over the suggestion.

The newspaper said that the March 14 coalition is discussing the matter, without having a final stance.

Salam, a 67-year-old moderate, was appointed in April two weeks after the resignation of Premier Najib Miqati.

However, Salam has been facing a difficulty in forming his cabinet over Aoun's unswerving stance to retain the energy and telecommunications ministries and his rejection to adopt the concept of rotating ministerial portfolios.

The nomination of the PM-designate, which was expected to help ease a political crisis that has gripped Lebanon since the conflict in Syria erupted, reached a standstill after a 10-month negotiations with the rival parties over his cabinet's lineup.

Aoun slammed Salam's endeavors on Tuesday, accusing him of impeding the cabinet formation process by insisting on the rotation of ministerial portfolios.


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