Gemayel says current vacuum in Lebanon is ‘scary and destructive’

Following his meeting with Speaker Nabih Berri on Tuesday , former lebanese president and current Phalange party leader Amin Gemayel said that the current vacuum in Lebanon is “scary and destructive,” National News Agency quoted him as saying.

“What is happening in the Lebanese arena is suicidal,” he said

“All state institutions are in a state of confusion in this governmental vacuum,” he said

President Michel Suleiman’s role is obstructed because the cabinet’s role is obstructed, Gemayel also said, adding that the parliament cannot replace the cabinet.

“We must not mix the parliament’s jurisdictions with those of the cabinet.” He stressed

Gemayel called for speeding up the cabinet formation to organize political life.

Gemayel condemned last week’s incident at the Telecommunications Ministry building at al-Adliyeh, describing it as “unacceptable.”

Commenting on Berri’s statement that the March 14 camp has set the country back 60 years, he said: “If only we could go back 60 years, at least back then, decisions in the country were taken through state institutions and not from across the border.” In a possible reference to Iran and Syria

The Iranian and Syrian backed Hezbollah brought down PM Saad Hariri’s government on January 12 over Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) ’s imminent indictment which is widely expected to implicate Hezbollah members in the assassination of the father of caretaker PM

Lebanon has been run by a caretaker government since last January. Nagib Mikati was appointed in January as the PM designate with the backing of the new March 8 majority led by Hezbollah. March 14 leaders have repeatedly said that intimidation from Hezbollah’s weapons helped secure the parliamentary majority for Mikati’s nomination.

Disputes over cabinet formation have prevented Mikati from forming the cabinet. Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun is reportedly demanding a disproportionate share in the cabinet and is being backed by Hezbollah and Syria in his demands . Aoun is also reportedly insisting on being allocated the 2 most sensitive security portfolios : The ministries of Interior and communications and does not want the president to have any share in the cabinet.