Salam for government that prioritizes elections

BEIRUT: Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam said that parliamentary elections should be the government’s top priority Wednesday after two days of consultations to form a new Cabinet.

“I am committed to a government that adheres to national interests and that puts elections as a [top] priority,” Salam told reporters at the Parliament building.

“I listened and enjoyed much of the ideas and thoughts needed during the course of the formation,” Salam said, adding that he will "expand these ideas further in order to reach what satisfies me, my homeland and fellow citizens that put great confidence in our democratic institutions."

He expressed hope that he will secure similar consensus to the one that brought him to the premiership.

Salam said the various parliamentary blocs, nevertheless, have a responsibility, toward making the outcome of the talks fruitful.

His remarks came on the second day of nonbinding consultations with parliamentary blocs over the formation of a new Cabinet to replace that of caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

The premier-designate kicked off his first meeting with MPs Nadim Gemayel, Serge Torsarkissian and Michel Pharaon who represent the Ashrafieh Free Decision parliamentary bloc.

“We call for a neutral government that includes competence,” Pharaon said following the meeting.

MP Sebouh Kalpakian, speaking on behalf of the Armenian Solidarity bloc, called for a technocrat government instead.

“We don’t want Armenians to be marginalized. We want key [Cabinet] portfolios that suit Armenian's role and sacrifices,” Kalpakian told reporters after meeting Salam.

For his part, Baath Party MP Assem Qanso insisted that the next government support parliamentary elections scheduled for June.

“There is national consensus on a broad-based political government,” he said.

Qanso also called for “normal ties” with Syria in order to boost the beleaguered Lebanese economy.

MP Asaad Hardan, speaking on behalf of the Syrian Socialist Nationalist Party bloc, agreed with Qanso's comments on re-establishing "good relations" with Syria.

He added his bloc supported a national unity government that enhances civil peace, and highlighted the need for what he called the “golden” political equation, “the resistance, the people and the army.”

Batroun MP Butros Harb vowed to help Salam accomplish his mission and said the premier-designate was free to form the Cabinet he deems appropriate.

Al-Jamaa al-Islamiya MP Imad Hout expressed hope that the new government would support the Baabda Declaration, which calls for separating Lebanon from the Syria crisis.

After meeting with Salam, MP Robert Ghanem said he would like to see a government made up of a ‘homogeneous team” and that “would prioritize parliamentary elections.”

A tough task faces Salam as the rival political camps, March 8 and March 14, differ on the shape of the new government.

Separately, Salam met with Italian Ambassador to Lebanon Giuseppe Morabito who voiced his support for the new PM’s efforts in forming his Cabinet. Morabito also hoped for a speedy agreement over a new electoral law for the upcoming elections.

“We support the efforts carried out by Prime-Minister designate Tammam Salam to form a government with the widest possible support of Lebanese political forces,” Morabito said.

Affirming that Italy does not interfere in Lebanon’s internal affairs, the envoy said his country supported the disassociation policy towards the Syrian crisis as well as the Baabda Declaration and the National Dialogue table.