Salam Launches Consultations to Form Cabinet, Parties Maintain Stances on Govt. Shape

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam launched on Tuesday consultations with parliamentary blocs on the shape and type of the new government.

Salam kicked off the consultations with a meeting with Speaker Nabih Berri at the parliament. He later held talks with Caretaker Premier Najib Miqati, who said following the meeting that he called for the formation of a government whose main purpose will be to hold the elections.

Miqati told reporters that he spoke with Salam about the situation in the northern city of Tripoli and said that “a speedy cabinet formation would limit the burden of the caretaker cabinet at these difficult circumstances.”

The PM-designate then held separate talks with deputy Speaker Farid Makari, Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, the Mustaqbal bloc headed by MP Fouad Saniora, Berri's Development and Liberation bloc, Hizbullah's Loyalty to the Resistance bloc headed by MP Mohammed Raad, the National Struggle Front headed by MP Walid Jumblat, MP Michel al-Murr, the Zahleh bloc, and the Lebanese Forces bloc.

Makari said after the meeting: "I did not make specific demands over the shape of the new government, but I hoped that Salam would break the sectarian distribution in the major cabinet portfolios."

"I hoped to Salam that the representation of sects would not be limited to certain political powers," he added.

"I also hoped that certain portfolios would not granted to political powers, but that they would be instead handed over to competent individuals who are specialized in that certain field," he remarked before reporters at parliament.

For his part, Saniora said after meeting Salam with the Mustaqbal bloc: “We wish him success in his mission to form a new government, which we hope will be capable of working as a united group and tackling the people's concerns.”

“The new cabinet should be capable of implementing democracy and the rotation of power of all portfolios, starting with the Finance Ministry,” noted the MP, while stressing that the members of the new government should not run in the parliamentary elections.

“We hope all sides would grant Salam their confidence in order for a cabinet to be formed as soon as possible to ensure the rise of Lebanon on the political and economic levels and in order to stage the elections,” stated Saniora.

Afterwards, Aoun, at the head of an FPM delegation, informed reporters that he will not reveal the details of his talks with Salam.

He emphasized however the importance of the formation of a national unity government that can confront the developments in the region.

Following the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc's meeting with Salam, Raad said: “We hope that a political government capable of holding the elections would be formed.”

“All political powers should be represented in the new cabinet,” he remarked in his brief statement.

The Zahleh bloc, meanwhile, said that the new government should include a figure from the Bekaa city and that it should be comprised of individuals who are specialized in their fields.

The Lebanese Forces bloc then said following talks with Salam: “We stressed the need for the formation of a neutral technocrat government whose members will not run in the elections.”

"We stressed the decision of war and peace in Lebanon should be limited to the state seeing as the concept of resistance does not exist in the constitution," said LF bloc MP Elie Kairouz.

Speaking in the name of the Phalange Party bloc, MP Elie Marouni said: "We called on PM-designate Salam to tackle the security issue, the issue of the elections, and the issue of controlling the border, and he said that he wants a cabinet comprising no MP hopefuls."

"The Phalange Party will take part in the cabinet whether it is a political cabinet or a technocrat cabinet," he noted.

Salam was on Saturday tasked by President Michel Suleiman with the formation of the new cabinet after 124 out of 128 MPs nominated him during the binding consultations.

Phalange MP Sami Gemayel said the bloc demanded the participation of women in the cabinet.

Head of the Mount Lebanon Unity bloc MP Talal Arslan said "we stressed the need to form a national unity government that would be a salvation government and works for Lebanon's interest."

"We believe that there is a major attack on the country and the region and Lebanon more than ever needs unity, rapprochement and preserving its components, which in turn would preserve the resistance so that we confront all challenges through a unified national resolve," Arslan added.

"I have a special relation with Walid Jumblat and we never said that we agree on all the political issues, as we still have disagreements and I'm in contact with him and with all parties in a bid to reach common ground," Arslan added.

He said he will not personally demand a ministerial portfolio, but noted that his bloc has the right to be represented.

"I'm against permanently allocating any ministerial portfolio to a certain sect," Arslan noted.

Head of the Free United Lebanon bloc MP Suleiman Franjieh, who had boycotted consultations to name the PM-designate, said his bloc will not be an "obstacle" in Salam's path.

"We're not seeking shares in the cabinet, but rather a strategic stance, such as embracing the resistance and opposing Israel," Franjieh added.

"Whether it is a technocrat or a political government, everyone must be represented in it," he said.

Clarifying his previous boycott, Franjieh said: "The PM-designate announced his nomination from the residence of martyr premier Rafik Hariri and he was March 14's candidate and did not shy away from declaring that and we did not shy away from saying that we can't accept a March 14 candidate."

"But since he has said that he belongs to everyone, we don't have a problem with him regardless of the type of cabinet," added Franjieh.

The PM-designate made protocol visits to former premiers on Monday ahead of Tuesday's two-day non-binding consultations with lawmakers.

Salam said after his appointment that he will seek to form a “national interest government.”