Report: Salam's Cabinet Will Not Be Toppled by Protests or Politics

Prime Minister Tammam Salam took the decision to schedule a cabinet session immediately after the end of the previous one over his keenness to ensure the productivity of his government, reported the Kuwaiti daily al-Anba on Sunday.

“He is keen to preserve its productivity regardless of the obstacles,” ministerial sources explained.

“His cabinet will not be toppled by politics or protests,” they added in reference to Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun's intention to hold demonstrations in several districts to reclaim the political rights of Christians.

“The government will be considered resigned once a new president is elected,” they continued.

“This was demonstrated by Speaker Nabih Berri's strong support for the cabinet, along with Hizbullah, whose deputy chief had expressed on Saturday the party's commitment to the government,” said the sources.

Al-Anba meanwhile interpreted Salam making his call on Friday instead of the habitual Saturday for cabinet to convene as an act of defiance against Aoun and his demand that the government only tackle the security appointments file during its meetings.

Aoun revealed plans to hold demonstrations in several districts and his son-in-law Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil vowed to take “partnership by force.”

“The Christians of the Orient are being eliminated by the sword and they want to eliminate us politically,” Aoun told his supporters in Rabieh on Saturday.

“This is why we started preparing for popular movements and demonstrations in the districts of Mount Lebanon, Baabda and Koura,” he said as the delegation from south Lebanon cheered.

Aoun, who heads the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc, has been recently hinting that his movement is preparing for protests to what he calls attempts by his rivals to end the role of Christians in Lebanon.

“We Christians are facing an existential threat because the foxes of Lebanese politics are usurping all the rights and posts of Christians,” he added.