BEIRUT: Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam believes there is no need for granting the March 8 coalition veto power in any new Cabinet, arguing that he can meet their concerns, a source close to Salam told The Daily Star Monday.
Meanwhile, Christian political party sources in both the March 8 and March 14 coalitions told The Daily Star that a possible agreement over a Cabinet formula would be reached once there was a deal over a new electoral law.
“There is no need for a blocking third ... Allowing any bloc to receive the veto power in the new government will result in an unproductive Cabinet,” the source quoted Salam as saying.
“I will be the guarantor for the March 8 team. I will step down if any of their ministers feel they should resign if the Cabinet fails to take into consideration the March 8 concerns,” Salam said, according to the source.
The March 8 coalition has been calling for the blocking third in the next Cabinet.
According to the source, Salam, who was nominated on April 6 to form the next Cabinet, will meet later this week with a March 8 delegation as part of consultations over the formation of the government.
The source said Salam was adamant that he should fulfill his mission, adding that he would not back down from his efforts to form the new Cabinet.
“Salam will not step down, he will keep up negotiations with all groups,” the source said.
Salam also said that he was keen on forming a “Cabinet of national interest” that joins all groups together.
“A government that lacks a main component of the country will lose its legitimacy,” Salam was quoted as saying.
The source also said that Salam insisted on having a “centrist bloc” in his Cabinet.
A report published in Al-Hayat newspaper Monday said Salam had proposed to March 8 officials a Cabinet made up of seven ministers from the Hezbollah-led coalition, eight ministers from the rival March 14 alliance and nine centrists.
However, March 8 reportedly rejected the offer and insisted it be granted veto power in the Cabinet given that it “enjoys 45 percent of [seats] in Parliament.”
Salam has been trying to bridge the gap between the country’s political rivals ever since his appointment following the resignation of now caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati in March.
Meanwhile, sources from Christian political parties in the March 8 and March 14 camps told The Daily Star said a three-way split of Cabinet seats between the different sides would be acceptable provided that an agreement over a new electoral law is reached.
However, the sources voiced pessimism over a possible agreement over a new electoral law and said a recent visit by Cardinal Beshara Rai’s envoy to Speaker Nabih Berri did not yield any positive results.
Last week, Rai dispatched a special emissary to Berri and MP Walid Jumblatt with a clear message demanding that the June parliamentary elections be held on time.
The sources expected a breakthrough in the Cabinet formation process prior to May 15.
They added that if there was no deal on a new electoral law, Parliament was unlikely to be convened.
