Salam Meets Berri to Discuss Ruling Crises

Prime Minister Tammam Salam held talks on Saturday with Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tineh to discuss the mechanism of the cabinet and the opening of an extraordinary session for parliament.

The meeting focused on the controversial crises that the state has been passing through after the term of President Michel Suleiman ended in May.

The government has been stuck in a limbo after Suleiman's tenure as decrees require the agreement of the rival ministers to be approved.

Parliament has also been unable to legislate over the boycott of several blocs until a new head of state is elected.

The parliamentary and cabinet paralysis is greatly linked to the presidential deadlock.

The majority of the March 8 alliance's MPs have been causing a lack of quorum in sessions aimed at electing a president, leaving the country without a head of state.

In line with the constitution, the cabinet began exercising the president’s prerogatives after the parliament failed to elect a successor to Michel Suleiman whose mission ended in May last year.

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.

The majority of the cabinet ministers have reportedly backed a change in the mechanism.

H.K.