The first round of the binding parliamentary consultations to name a
prime minister ended on Friday with 86 deputies nominating MP Tammam
Salam as Prime Minister.
The consultations
began with a meeting held between Lebanese President Michel Sleiman, and
House Speaker Nabih Berri whom upon entering said that the
consultations would be “swift and easy”.
Caretaker Prime
Minister Najib Mikati also held talks with Sleiman, upon which he
delivered a word at the conclusion of his meeting.
Mikati
described the consultations as constitutional and necessary, stressing
that the settlement on naming the new Prime Minister comes for the
benefit of the entire country.
"Our main concern is the stability of Lebanon," he said.
As
Prime Minister, I am glad to see such progress on the Lebanese
political front, Mikati said, adding that while in the position of
Premier he upheld his responsibilities to the last minute.
"Some
may consider me a victim in this entire process, but I did not serve as
Prime Minister for personal gains. I have no regrets."
For his
part, deputy House Speaker Farid Makary also voiced his support to the
nomination of Salam, alongside the Development and Liberation bloc.
Makary
expressed hope for a new Lebanon that would emerge undivided. “We hope
the formation of the government will be as easy as Salam’s nomination”.
Makary also noted refusal towards ministers in the new government who will run in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
For
its part, the Future bloc, presided by former Prime Minister Fouad
Siniora reiterated its nomination of MP Salam, stating that the current
situation obligates the formation of a government capable of restoring
the trust of the people and facing up to the coming challenges.
"The
future cabinet must restore the country its prestige, socioeconomic
status and stability- and it must cooperate with the head of state
President Michel Sleiman in the resumption of the national dialogue
sessions," Siniora said following talks with Sleiman. He also reiterated
Makary's stance in regards to Ministers running for the upcoming
parliamentary elections.
"We wish MP Salam luck; we will stand by his side in forming a new cabinet that acts by achieving its tasks."
Meanwhile,
MP Walid Jumblatt said from the Baabda Palace that the National
Struggle Front nominated MP Salam as Prime Minister, and praised the
efforts exerted by Caretaker PM Najib Mikati in this regard. MP Jumblatt added that the number of deputies in the NSF bloc had increased after MP Henry Helou joined the Bloc.
In the same framework, MPs Michel Murr and Nayla Tueini also nominated MP Salam as Prime Minister.
Earlier,
sources had confirmed to LBCI Sleiman’s reassurance in regards to the
nomination of MP Tammam Salam for Prime Minister, since “he was never at
a distance,” pointing out that 87 deputies will be naming the MP who
will then be tasked with the formation of a new government.
The
sources added that a settlement, agreed upon by all factions, would soon
emerge mainly pertaining to MP Tammam Salam's appointment as premier.
On another note, another condition of the settlement will include
postponing the elections until September or October, 2013.
Prior
to the consultations, the most favorable candidate for the Prime
Ministry said that he is ready to listen to all Lebanese factions,
noting that if named, his major task would be to carry out the upcoming
parliamentary elections based on a consensual electoral law.
Hezbollah
and its allies also nominated MP Salam as Prime Minister. Parliamentary
speaker Nabih Berri, whose Shi'te Amal movement is part of the March 8
coalition,
threw his support behind Salam on Friday and called on all
political sides to work together.
"We in March 8 will name
Tammam Salam to form a new government - a government of national unity,"
a political source in the bloc said on Friday.
The Free
Patriotic Movement
show of support to Salam, came via its head MP Michel
Aoun who said that the Change and Reform's bloc's choice in maintaining
national unity and stability in the country.
Following the
bloc's consultations with Sleiman, MP Ibrahim Kanaan reiterated the
bloc's nomination saying: "We believe that his [Salam's] nomination will
restore national unity in Lebanon."
In contrast, Marada leader
MP Sleiman Franjieh announced that he would be boycotting the
consultations since Salam's nomination was first announced from Former
Prime Minister Hariri’s residence: Bayt el Wassat, adding that Salam's
affiliation and loyalty was made clear. In this context MPs Salim Karam
and Stephan Douaihy boycotted the consultations, while MP Emile Rahme
said that he has yet to make a decision in this regard.
A
former minister from a prominent political dynasty, Salam won the
backing on Thursday of the Saudi- and Western-backed March 14 political
coalition after talks brokered in Saudi Arabia. Druze leader Walid
Jumblatt, whose seven parliamentary seats hold the balance of power,
also backed him.
A Sunni Muslim, as all Lebanese prime
ministers must be under the country's confessional distribution of
power, Salam is seen as close to March 14, but independent enough to be
acceptable to Hezbollah's March 8 bloc.
The cabinet of Najib
Mikati resigned on Friday [March 22] 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 Ashraf Rifi and
preparations for the parliamentary vote.
The consultations will continue on Saturday.
For the full report, please click on the VIDEO above.