Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam said after talks with Speaker Nabih Berri Monday that he was not rushing to form the next Cabinet but at the same time was against delays in the formation process.
“I have said it right from the start that I am not in a hurry to form the Cabinet but I also do not like delays,” Salam told reporters at Berri’s Ain al-Tineh residence after the talks with the speaker.
“This is linked to how I feel in terms of a deep desire to form the government because the country under a caretaker Cabinet is increasingly moving backward,” he added.
Political sources said Sunday that Salam, who was nominated on April 6 to form the new government, was unlikely to present a Cabinet before Parliament meets this week to discuss a new electoral law. The move is apparently aimed at averting a crisis over the formation of the new Cabinet.
The meeting between Salam and Berri comes after reports over the weekend that the speaker was frustrated with Salam and President Michel Sleiman over the process of forming the next government.
“I needed to hold this visit to Berri to stress first and foremost the deep ties that I have had with him for many years,” Salam said.
The meeting also comes amid threats by Hezbollah and the March 8 coalition to Salam that the setting up of what they called a “fait accompli government” could destabilize Lebanon.
Asked about March 8 intimidation toward him, Salam said: “A lot of media reports have emerged lately and I was transparent and frank, I will only act under the [country’s] national interest. This is why I only count on constructive and positive discussions over the issue,” he said.
The prime minister-designate said that he would keep up his efforts to form the new government and maintain contact with different political groups to finalize his mission.
“We will maintain consultations to see how things will develop in the coming few days,” he said.
Salam said Berri was also keeping up efforts in this regard and expressed hope that the speaker’s endeavors would result in a “productive outcome.”
"Berri is exerting a great effort to reach a new law for the elections and in the Cabinet formation and I hope his efforts results in a productive outcome," he said.
Members of Parliament’s Secretariat held a meeting later Monday at Ain al-Tineh over setting the agenda for Wednesday’s General Assembly session.
