Salam Says Time Factor is a 'Threat,' Cabinet Formation is not a 'Whim'
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam denied that he was threatening to form a fait accompli government, saying the time factor had been threatening him along with the political factions in the country.
“It's not me who is threatening,” Salam told al-Akhbar daily in remarks published on Tuesday.
“On the contrary, the time factor is threatening me and threatening all of us amid an unstable situation and bombings,” he said.
Salam expressed fears that things would go out of control and Lebanon would fall in a Sunni-Shiite strife as a result of the spillover of the Syrian crisis on Lebanon.
“These are the true deadlines that are threatening us,” Salam said to shrug off reports that he would resort along with President Michel Suleiman to issue a de facto government if the rival parties failed to agree on the all-embracing cabinet.
“It seems that the Free Patriotic Movement is not viewing these threats,” he said.
Mediation efforts have so far failed to convince FPM leader Michel Aoun to agree on a deal struck between the rest of the major factions on the rotation of portfolios among sects and the political parties in the unity government.
This gives Suleiman and Salam an other option to form the all-embracing cabinet without Aoun.
“The cabinet formation is not a fantasy or a whim,” Salam said. “On the contrary, it is a serious mission to find an authority that plays its role and practices its authorities.”
“I have been patient for months,” he told al-Akhbar about his appointment in April last year.
Salam held onto the rotation of portfolios, saying there was no compromise on them.
Asked whether a neutral government would worsen the country's political crisis, he said: “Most probably and it could also not receive the parliament's vote of confidence.”
“But are we in a better situation?” he asked.
The premier-designate stressed that the Constitution backs the neutral cabinet even if a political party rejected it.
28 January 2014, 07:59
95
Yet again Aoun is threatening to take his ball and go home. This time one is inclined to say so let him stay out if he insists Lebanon can no longer afford his tantrums. Speaking as a Christian, it is more important for me and my family to keep our country stable and not risk a Sunni/Shiite explosion.
We've had enough instability and no one, least of all Aoun, must be allowed to cause an explosion. Enough already for the sake of our people, enough!
28 January 2014, 08:31
49
Christians are being treated as second class citizens ever since this damned Taef accord. We waited for Hariri fo 8 months to accept to join cabinet with HA, we waited for HA for 8 months to accept the 8 8 8 formula.
As for the christians, they have 2 weeks to decide or else...
Anyway. Aoun will accept. But he will accept on a Tuesday. Because he likes Tuesdays. He just wants to get as much concessions for the presidential elections as he can get in exchange.
28 January 2014, 08:52
32
Christians have weakened themselves by baseless divisions whereas sunnis, chia and druze are more united behind their respective leaders. As such they are loosing dramatically political power in this country. It would be welcome that Christian leaders stop their never ending combat de chef and really start working on strengthening their leadership in order to regain political influence and power.
28 January 2014, 08:54
93
Can u just tell me what would it get me as a christian if bassilo kept the oil ministery (cause all this is for oil contracts i think) as for super minister bassilo the oil was there since ever and we new about it since decades (as did cyprus and israel but couldnot be extracted till now cause oil price was cheapper thant to extract from the sea then, same applyed for cyprus and israel, so what was bassilo big accomplshment? He made the world oil prices raise so it became benificial to extract from the sea? He rented us fatmeh gul? Really what were his great accomplishments? And how did christian benefit from this extraordinary minister?....
28 January 2014, 11:35
91
"As for the christians, they have 2 weeks to decide or else......."
What Christians are you referring to, the Aounis. L_F, Christian representation is not exclusive to Aounis you know.
28 January 2014, 08:53
58
Would be easier for the Christians, if they didn't leave for other countries, everytime there is a conflict. Would also be better if Christians united with other Christians across the middle east like Syria.
28 January 2014, 09:16
93
Rouh ya Salam Lebanon needs more great men and patriots like you, form the de facto government leave the thieves without any ministries that would be the biggest favor you could do to the country. I believe that parliament will give a de facto government its trust, thats if they ever let it convene or if they dont assasinate MP's on their way to convene.
Bassil can throw his tantrums later and go crying to amo Aoun.
Lebanon first before their bank accounts I think, plus the fact were actually paying for this fiasco called a government. Ministers and Mp's whos loyalty is with other countries, who do nothing connstructive, whos goal is to paralyze state institutions, we are actually paying their salaries and "perks". Its enough already, form the de facto, find out min aina lahim hazza, strip them of their immunity, let it be a public issue and let them go baltou el bahar or kanso el sahra. Lebanon is behind you President Suleiman and Mr Salam!
28 January 2014, 17:22
00
As a Lebanees Citizen I love Lebanon,I don`t like to see more of this painfull and stressfull BS. enough is enough ! This is not about sunni/shiit Aoun or Christian anymore,it is about Lebanon.I ask my President NO Ask is the wrong word, I demand that my President do his duties for the people of Lebanon and for Lebanon !
