Salam Slams March 8 over cabinet formation impasse

Lebanon’s Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam slammed the accusations by the March 8 alliance over the cabinet formation delay, denied being responsible for the impasse and pointed out that his main aim was to form a productive cabinet that serves the nation’s best interest.

“I only care about forming a productive cabinet that serves the nation’s best interest ” Salam told As Safir newspaper in an interview .

He expressed concern that some parties want the power vacuum to continue and a decision has already been made to block the government formation.

Since his appointment Salam has been trying to form a cabinet based on giving an equal share to the rival political blocks – March 14 , March 8 and the centrists, but the Hezbollah led March 8 alliance is insisting on having a bigger share in the cabinet to allow it to veto its decisions . Salam has been opposed to giving any party a veto power ( usually referred to as a blocking third ) . He has recently been floating the idea of forming a neutral cabinet of technocrats, but Hezbollah and FPM leader MP Michel Aoun have been opposed to this idea too and this is why Lebanon is still without a government and Najib Miqati is still acting as the caretaker Prime Minister.

The March 14 coalition is meanwhile urging Salam for keeping Hezbollah out of the cabinet over its role in Syria’s war.

Salam criticized Hezbollah ‘s chief for saying that he would personally fight in Syria.

Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah said on Friday he himself was ready to go and fight in Syria against takfiris .

“I will go myself to Syria if it is so necessary in the battle against the takfiris [radical Islamists], Hezbollah and I will go to Syria” to fight rebels trying to oust the Damascus regime, Nasrallah said in an angry reaction to the car bombing that took place in Ruwais .

“Military intervention will negatively impact Lebanon,” Salam told As Safir.

He also stressed that all the Lebanese are against takfiris and no one justifies their acts.

Takfiris in both Sunni and Shiite sects are radical Islamists who consider people who do not share their religious views as infidels.