Between Baabda and el-Msaytbeh: consultations and congratulations

The second round of parliamentary consultations started on the second day Saturday at 9a.m. in Baabda Palace in order to nominate the premier for the new cabinet amid a consensus for MP Tamam Salam premiership.

President of the Republic started his second tour of Parliamentary consultations by meeting Zahleh MPs bloc. “We came to nominate Tamam Salam because he enjoys a national spirit and we need a man like him”, vowed the head of Zahleh MPs bloc MP Toni Abou Khater.

MP Georges Oudwane, in the name of the Lebanese Forces MPs bloc nominated MP Tamam Salam to preside a cabinet which put the parliamentary elections at the top. “We're with a technocrat government and the ministerial statement should include Baabda's declaration”, he said.

MP Elie Marouni, in the name of the Kataeb party, declared the nomination of Tamam Salam for the Premiership. “We hope reaching an honest cabinet that controls the elections on set”, he pointed out.

MP Talal Erslan heading the Unity of the Mountain bloc nominated Tamam Salam to form the cabinet because he will have a global, national approach which unifies all the Lebanese in order to protect Lebanon from the regional and international winds. “We hope everybody will participate in the national government”, as we said to the president.

The Free United Lebanon bloc headed by Frangieh boycotted the consultations excluding MP Emile Rahmeh. “I have nominated MP Tamam Salam for the Premiership”, Rahmed said. “Frangieh asked me to come to the Presidential Palace to nominate the Premier because he knows my deep historical friendship with Tamam Salam”, he added pointing out that the relation among Suleiman, Frangieh and Tamam Salam will erase all what is going on in the heads of some persons.

MP Pharaon in the name of the Free Decision bloc nominated Tamam Salam to preside the cabinet.

MP Seboh Kelbakian, spoke in the name of Armenian Consensus bloc, nominated Salam and which him luck for the premiership.

MP Ahmad Karami nominated Salam for premiership pointing out that Mikati’s wishes are becoming true and one of the main reasons for Mikati’s resignation was forming a national government.

MP Assem Kansou, in the name of “Baath MPs” nominated Salam.

MP Assaad Hardane in the name of the bloc of the “Syrian National” party MPs, nominated Salam to form the cabinet during the binding consultations. “We feel that political parties are before a big exam to get out of the crisis”, he said.

Agop Pakradounian in the name of Armenian MPs bloc nominated MP Tamam Salam for the premiership.

MP Imad el-Hout of al-Jamaa el-Islamiya nominated Salam saying that they didn’t want a premier who is candidate for parliamentary elections.

MP Marwan Hamadeh said that he nominated Salam and that he wished him good luck and adding that consultations are running in a spring climate.