Reports: Salam to Call for Cabinet Convention, Berri Supports the Move

Chances that the cabinet could resume its stalled sessions are rising as Prime Minister Tammam Salam is likely to call for a convention next week or the week after, pan-Arab al-Hayat daily stated on Sunday.

“Salam met with Speaker Nabih Berri on Saturday and the two men discussed the governmental paralysis, highlighting the need for a quick cabinet convention,” unnamed sources told the daily.

“The timing has not been set or disclosed yet and it is up to Salam to say when,” they added.

On the other hand, visitors to Salam quoted him as saying: “it is not a secret that the Speaker approves a cabinet convention because he realizes the danger threatening the country as the result of the paralysis dominating the state institutions.”

During their meeting, Salam and Berri discussed ways to end the deadlock hampering the government and parliament sessions, pinpointing the options to “steer the wheel” and get the government moving to tackle pressing issues on its agenda.

For its part, An Nahar daily quoted an unnamed minister of March 8 alliance who said that “the cabinet vacation could extend until after the month of Ramadan. It is even better if the government waits until the month of September to meet which would salvage it from the conflicts that could rip it off from the inside.”

The Free Patriotic Movement has threatened to boycott the sessions if the agenda is not topped with the appointment of high-ranking security and military officials.

The FPM chief Michel Aoun has been lobbying for political consensus on the appointment of Commando Regiment chief Brig. Gen. Chamel Roukoz, his son-in-law, as army chief as part of a package for the appointment of other top security officers.

Roukoz's tenure ends in October while the term of army commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji expires at the end of September.