The cabinet could possibly resume its meetings next Thursday without modifying its decision-making mechanism, but more likely with a change in the performance, after Prime Minister Tammam Salam received assurances that political parties have no intention to obstruct the government’s work, ministerial sources told al-Joumhouriya daily.
However, contacts between Salam and the ministers continue away from media spotlight, sources close to the PM told the daily on Saturday, but they reiterated that the final outcome on a cabinet session could be taking shape.
Full StoryObservers expressed fear on Friday that the cabinet might fail to appoint the members of the Banking Control Commission of Lebanon (BCCL) before the end of the current representatives' term on March 11.
The paralysis at the government, which is not convening, could highly impact the banking sector if the members of the committee, 5, were not replaced or their tenure extended, al-Liwaa newspaper reported.
Full StoryThe fate of the cabinet was still unclear on Thursday after Prime Minister Tammam Salam refused to confirm whether he set a date for a session to discuss the controversial decision-making mechanism.
Local dailies quoted Salam was saying that some ministers were paralyzing the cabinet over limited and personal issues.
Full StoryThe Free Patriotic Movement lashed out Wednesday at former president Michel Suleiman, describing his election in 2008 as “the biggest stab to constitution.”
“The remarks that were voiced in a friendly Arab country by a Lebanese official who belongs to the past were unfortunate, especially that statesmen must be keen on the internal unity of the Lebanese during their foreign trips,” Education Minister Elias Bou Saab, who is close to FPM chief MP Michel Aoun, tweeted.
Full StoryFormer President Michel Suleiman and seven cabinet ministers met on Wednesday at Kataeb leader Amin Gemayel's residence in Sin el-Fil to discuss the controversial decision-making mechanism of the cabinet, rejecting the ongoing vacuum at the presidency.
Gemayel said after the talks: “The vacancy at the Baabda Palace would not have persisted had it not been for the coup against the constitution.”
Full StoryPrime Minister Tammam Salam has stressed that he would set a date for a new cabinet session when his contacts with the different parties represented in the cabinet reach solutions to the government paralysis.
Officials close to Salam said the premier backs any initiative that would facilitate the government's work.
Full StoryPrime Minister Tammam Salam met Monday with al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri as part of his endeavor to find a solution to the crisis crippling the work of his cabinet.
Media outlets said Hariri did not make any statement after leaving the Grand Serail meeting.
Full StoryKataeb party leader Amin Gemayel considered on Monday the ongoing presidential vacuum unacceptable, calling on rivals to prioritize the election of a new head of state.
“We are surprised by all the measures taken... which aim at ridiculing the presidential vacuum,” Gemayel said after talks with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi in Bkirki.
Full StoryLebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea has said that he wants to reach a “deep and effective” understanding with his rival Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun.
“Dialogue would resolve a lot of problems, including the presidency … but things need time,” Geagea said on Monday about his upcoming talks with Aoun.
Full StoryThe cabinet is expected to resume its meetings on February 26 after Prime Minister Tammam Salam suspended its sessions in light of political disputes between the various factions over the government's mechanism, al-Mustaqbal newspaper reported on Sunday.
The daily quoted ministerial sources as saying that the cabinet will convene on Thursday, however, the session's agenda hasn't been distributed yet.
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