Salam Calls for Centrist President, Says he is 'Suffering' over Cabinet Paralysis
Prime Minister Tammam Salam has said the region's conditions compel the Lebanese to elect a centrist president and stressed that the cabinet sessions would remain suspended pending an agreement on a productive work mechanism
Salam told two local dailies in interviews published on Monday that the international community had given up on its mission to resolve Lebanon's president crisis.
Such a reason, in addition to the rivalry between the country's March 8 and 18 alliances, should compel lawmakers to elect a centrist head of state, he said.
“There are several neutral candidates who can help us cross this difficult stage,” he added.
Lebanon has been without a president since the term of Michel Suleiman ended in May.
Salam told the newspapers that he would not allow the government to collapse over its failure to make achievements in managing the country and carrying out projects.
“My responsibility lies in stopping its collapse,” he said. But Salam hoped that all the other factions would cooperate with him to change the decision-making mechanism adopted by the cabinet.
In line with the constitution, the cabinet began exercising the president’s prerogatives after the parliament failed to elect a successor for Suleiman.
Salam has adopted the collective vote formula that requires the approval of the 23 ministers on major decisions. Such a process is hindering the government's work over the veto right that certain cabinet members are exercising.
Despite his frustration, Salam said he would not resign so that he does not cause another vacuum at a top institution.
“I am suffering but at the same time I am working on managing the state's affairs and overcoming the obstacle,” he said.
The PM warned however that the country's democratic system would be under threat if the cabinet ministers did not agree on a new mechanism.
Such a new formula “requires leniency from all sides,” he said.
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