Prime Minister-Designate Tammam Salam reiterated on Wednesday his
support to the consensus reached throughout the consultations pointing
out at the importance of maintaining this consensus while forming the
cabinet.
Ending the second day of
consultations, MP Salam highlighted the significance of the national
task he is carrying out adding that he is still adherent to the
formation of a national unity cabinet.
“As I said before, my
task is of a national importance. In fact, the government should play a
major role by holding the upcoming parliamentary elections.”
Free Decision Bloc:
Salam
had resumed the parliamentary consultations on Wednesday at 10 am in
al-Nejmeh Square where he met with the Free Decision bloc that includes
MPs Michel Pharaon, Nadim Gemayel and Serge Torsarkissian.
Following
the meeting, MP Michel Pharaon said that the bloc calls for the
formation of a ‘neutral’ government that supervises the elections,
abides by the Baabda Declaration and refuses to accept any blackmailing.
The bloc showed support for the representation of Achrafieh in the government,
stressing that the new government must be tasked with supervising the upcoming
parliamentary elections.
Armenian Consensus Bloc:
For its part, the Armenian Consensus
bloc stressed after meeting with Salam the necessity of forming a technocratic
government that will supervise the upcoming elections.
Baath Party:
The Baath party bloc MP Assem Qanso
said after meeting with Salam that a "large scale government must be
formed", noting the necessity of creating a petroleum ministry alongside
the energy ministry.
Syrian Socialist Nationalist Party:
Meanwhile, the Syrian Socialist
Nationalist Party MP Assaad Hardan said after meeting Salam that the
PM-designate is ready to form a national unity government.
MP
Hardan stressed that the new government must reconsider the current relation
with Syria.
The
Jamaa Islamiya Bloc:
PM
designate Salam also met with the Jamaa Islamiya bloc amid the ongoing
consultations.
MP Imad al-Hout said after meeting Salam that he wished that the new government
would be formed swiftly, and to adhere to the Baabda
declaration.
Hout hoped that the new government would hold elections on their due time and
ease the tension in Lebanon in order to focus on the Lebanese people's daily
issues.
Independent MP Boutros Harb:
Independent
MP Boutros Harb met with Prime Minister designate Salam in the
consultations.
MP Harb told reporters that Salam has the freedom to carry out what he deems
appropriate for the formation of a new
government adding that he believes MP Salam is the right person for this job.
Harb stressed the necessity of holding the upcoming parliamentary elections on their due time.
MP
Robert Ghanem:
As
for MP Robert Ghanem, he said after meeting the PM-designate that he urged him
to form a government which has a priority of holding the
elections.
MP Ghanem also wished that the new government would reach a new electoral law
and handle the Lebanese people's daily concerns.
MP Robert Fadel:
For
his part, MP Robert Fadel hoped that the new government would be
"effective" and avoid mistakes made by the previous ones.
MP Marwan Hamadeh:
MP
Marwan Hamadeh hoped after meeting the Prime Minister designate that the
consensus over Salam's nomination will lead to the formation of a new
government.
MPs Fouad al-Saad and Antoine Saad:
As
for the independent MPs Fouad al-Saad and Antoine Saad, they said after meeting
with PM-designate Salam that they wished him success in his mission, and did
not specify any demand.
MP Nicolas Fattouche:
PM designate Salam then met with MP
Nicolas Fattouche who said that the formation of a government tasked with
holding the parliamentary elections only violates the constitution.
He
also added that demanding the participants in the new government not to run in
the elections is also a constitutional violation.
MP
Mohammad Safadi:
As
well, MP Mohmmad Safadi met with PM designate Salam and said following the
meeting that the Lebanese people are "politicized", hence making it
difficult to form a non-political government.
MP Safadi suggested the formation a new government comprised of
"homogeneous and competent ministers."
Armenian Deputies Bloc:
Tashnag Party MP Hagop Pakradounian said that Armenian deputies support the
formation of a political cabinet and called for an Armenian representation
similar to that of "the other 7 sects".
On the
first day of consultations, the March 14 alliance
called for the formation of a technocratic cabinet whose members were not
candidates for the upcoming
elections.
Salam's main task will be to steer the fractious country towards a parliamentary
election which is due in June but is now widely expected to face
delays.
Outgoing Prime Minister Mikati resigned last month after two fraught years in
office during which he sought to contain sectarian tensions, street violence
and economic fallout from the civil war raging in neighboring
Syria.
Mikati resigned following a cabinet dispute with Hezbollah and its allies - who
brought him to power in early 2011 - over extending the term of a top security
official and preparations for the parliamentary vote.
President Michel Sleiman tasked on April 6 Tammam Salam to form the new
government.
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