Salam Says Consultations over Cabinet Formation Ongoing

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam expressed surprise on Thursday over reports saying that a neutral de facto cabinet will be formed during the upcoming days.

Salam in comments published in As Safir newspaper stressed that he is following up with President Michel Suleiman and the concerned officials the process of government formation.

He pointed out that the media leaks are mere fabrications and created an “unnecessary fuss.”

On Wednesday, Salam held talks with Suleiman at the Baabda Palace.

The PM-designate stressed that he supports “a council of ministers that serves the national interest.”

Salam noted that he “has been at the same distance from all political factions since being named to form a cabinet. I have my own independence and freedom because I was named to form the cabinet by 124 MPs and my goal is the national interest.”

Salam is seeking the formation of a 24-member cabinet in which the March 8, March 14 and the centrists camps would each get eight ministers and rejects to grant the veto power to any side.

However, the formation consultations are expected to slow down as Speaker Nabih Berri and caretaker PM Najib Miqati are on a vacation outside the country and Suleiman is expected to leave on a private vacation on August 18.

The March 8 alliance has meanwhile been demanding that it granted veto power in a new cabinet, which the premier-designate has repeatedly rejected.

While the March 14 coalition is calling for keeping Hizbullah away from the cabinet lineup over its role in Syria's war.