No successor to Salameh: Cabinet session canceled due to lack of quorum

A cabinet session to appoint a new central bank governor was cancelled Thursday due to a lack of quorum.

Only several ministers showed up at the Grand Serail and held a consultation meeting.

"We had the opportunity today to temporarily address the financial and monetary files. It is regrettable that the parties represented in cabinet have other priorities," caretaker Prime Minister Najib said after the ministerial meeting.

"Let each party bear the responsibility for its decision," he added.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri had urged Mikati to call for a Cabinet session to appoint a new Central Bank governor, as the governor's term ends this month with no successor in sight.

Mikati met twice with vice-governors, Wassim Mansouri, Bashir Yakzan, Salim Chahine and Alexander Mouradian to convince them not to resign after they threatened that they would quit unless politicians swiftly name an incoming governor.

The vice-governors have some demands and are asking for the government and parliament's support to continue their work.

Lebanon's central bank governor is named by cabinet decree for a six-year mandate that can be renewed multiple times. If the position is vacant, the law stipulates that the first vice-governor take over.

In case the vice governors decide to resign, they would act in caretaker capacity until the appointment of a new governor.