Salam Meets Suleiman in Baabda over Cabinet Lineup Draft
Prime Minister-designate Tammam on Wednesday met with President Michel Suleiman at the Baabda Palace to discuss "the latest developments in the cabinet formation process," state-run National News Agency reported.
As he entered the meeting, Salam told reporters that he would not make a statement after the talks.
Salam was expected to present his first cabinet lineup draft to Suleiman amid exerted efforts by the rival parties to form an all-embracing government.
Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5) said "Salam was seen entering the Baabda Palace while carrying a gray dossier that contains lists of candidates' names."
Later on Wednesday, Salam met with caretaker Social Affairs Minister Wael Abu Faour and discussed with him the issue of the cabinet line-up, according to Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3).
According to An Nahar newspaper, Salam was expected to discuss with Suleiman one or two cabinet lineup drafts before taking a final decision on Thursday.
"Salam did not carry any cabinet line-up with him to Baabda and efforts to reach a settlement are still ongoing," the Free Patriotic Movement's mouthpiece OTV reported later on Wednesday.
In remarks to LBCI television, Abu Faour said the visits he made Wednesday "have led to some new ideas," hoping FPM leader MP Michel "Aoun will accept them."
Quoting sources, MTV said "things are still complicated and unripe for the formation of an all-embracing, political government."
"Abu Faour told Salam this evening that the indications are not positive," MTV said.
"Abu Faour's visit to Ain al-Tineh did not lead to anything new amid (Speaker Nabih) Berri's rejection to give the finance portfolio to Aoun," MTV added.
Quoting informed sources, MTV said "Hizbullah has asked for more time to find solutions to the General's demands."
The government formation process has made progress with the majority of factions reaching an initial agreement over an 8-8-8 lineup that grants each of the March 8 and 14 camps and centrists eight ministers with rotating portfolios.
However, Aoun has impeded the agreement after rejecting the rotation of ministerial portfolios as he insisted on retaining the energy and telecommunications ministries.
An Nahar daily reported that Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat delegated Minister Abou Faour to hold talks with several parties to discuss the cabinet formation process on Tuesday.
Abou Faour met with President Suleiman also and informed him about his talks with the rival parties.
According to As Safir newspaper, Abou Faour's exerted efforts reached a dead end.
The daily also reported that FPM's caretaker Energy Minister Jebran Bassil held talks with Marada movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh.
Speaker Nabih Berri's adviser caretaker Health Minister Ali Hasan Khalil also contacted Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's aide Hussein Khalil and Hizbullah Liaison and Coordination Officer Wafiq Safa.
As Safir newspaper also reported that Suleiman and Salam held a meeting on Monday night at the residence of Metn MP Michel Murr in Rabieh.
over 10 years
Not to everybody, according to the runt Southern it is Geagea that is doing the impeding.
over 10 years
To be fair the Hizb held off the formation of the government for 10 months. Couple of more days is not a huge issue.
over 10 years
There is a rumor that Aoun will be offered the pest control portfolio.
over 10 years
too much for him:)
over 10 years
Aoun is a selfish foolish delusional.
over 10 years
Since when wasn't he selfish,foolish,delusional?
over 10 years
what about withdrawal of hizbb from Syria , and no government with hizb ,
and no and no ....
suddenly the problem is claoun !!!!!!
think the problem and the clowns are who receive orders from other countries
god bless lebanon
over 10 years
الآن نحنا قبلنا أنه تم الترتيب هكذا بصيغة 9-9-6 .. ولكن يمكن إذا تغيرت الظروف لن تقبل الناس بهذه الصيغة ولذلك اغتنموا الفرص.
” نحن أمام حالتين فرضيتين إما الاستمرار بالتعطيل الحالي أو تواضع الفريق الأخر وقبوله بصيغة 9-9-6″.
حسن نصرالله
over 10 years
Salam from CHI.NN???
over 10 years
Mr. Salam, sign the paper. Mr. President, sign the paper, the 3 days are up now, let's have that government now, whether Aoun or anyone else don't like it, well fine, let them live with it, just let's have a government before the weekend, wou 5alsounah, bi Rabkoun.
over 10 years
tawwil bellak ya phoenix tawwil bellak ya khayye esseton tawwileh haidol.
tomorrow they will come up with other excuse to stall. Patience is a virtue ma hek? ;-)
over 10 years
You're right Eli, but one now must call their bluffs, the whole game is as you rightly said, stall, stall and stall. The president if it came to him alone, would have finished this matter a long time ago, but I know how he thinks, he is doing all he can to avoid falling into their trap, that he rushed and would blame him for any ensuing violence that will follow. Well now all alleys have been exhausted, now if the president gives the order, then yi sirr li baddou yi sirr ya habibi. You know something? These past two days, I've been going through a lot of vids of Aoun, Al Assad and others, man, they're still stuck with old habits. The president I'm sure has also been watching these for longer than I did, thus now he should make his move. There are times when a person must walk on nails, if we should, we must, now.
over 10 years
sadly I agree with you. The biggest losers are the Lebanese people.
"However, head of the Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun has impeded the agreement after rejecting the rotation of ministerial portfolios as he insisted on retaining the energy and telecommunications ministries."
It is clear to everybody who is the impediment to government formation. Aoun, Aoun, Aoun.