Salam says his reappointment as PM hinges on 'reform process'

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has stressed that Hezbollah’s weapons should be “under the command of all Lebanese and under the decision of the Lebanese government.”

“No one wants to throw them into the sea or hand them over to Israel as is being rumored,” Salam said in an interview with LBCI television.

“I don’t believe that there is a risk of internal strife, seeing as we have passed through wars, especially civil wars, and I don’t think anyone wants to return to internal strife or any form of civil war,” the premier added.

Noting that the reconstruction process “requires capabilities,” Salam reminded that “the World Bank’s $250 million loan was approved 10 days ago in parliament.”

“I have met with the Council for Development and Reconstruction and hopefully we will begin dispending these funds with the beginning of the year,” Salam added.

“We will work on holding the parliamentary elections on time, and if I notice a chance for the continuation of the reform process, I’ll be more than ready for assuming the premiership again, but I’m not a ‘fan of seats,’” the premier went on to say.