Local Editor

Lebanon's major political coalitions named politician Tammam Salam, a former minister from a prominent political dynasty, as the country's next prime minister.

Salam won endorsement from the pro-Western March 14, as well as from Hizbullah, Amal Movement, and Change and Reform Bloc.
Thus, eighty-six lawmakers nominated Beirut MP Tammam Salam for the premiership on the first day of binding parliamentary consultations at the Baabda Palace, winning key endorsements from across the political spectrum.

The consultations kicked off on Friday with Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who stated after meeting with President Michel Suleiman that he nominates Salam for the premiership.
"We are looking forward to achieving a positive shock in Lebanon, which entails nominating Salam to head a new government," he stated.
Suleiman then met House Speaker Nabih Berri, as part of the binding parliamentary consultations, and the latter named MP Salam to head the cabinet. Berri's Development and Liberation bloc also supported Salam for premiership.

The Change and Reform bloc also voiced their support for MP Salam.
"We nominated Salam and we believe that his nomination will restore national unity in Lebanon," the bloc's MP Ibrahim Kanaan said after meeting with the president.
However, Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun held a press conference before his bloc's talks with Suleiman, and asserted that he will boycott the consultations because "he feels like it".
"Our decision is not because we are taking a stand against President Suleiman," he said, and pointed out that "an agreement was reached over Salam."

The Future bloc was the next bloc to meet with President Suleiman and it's head MP Fouad Saniora told reporters that the lawmakers' nominations of Salam "stems from their commitment to Lebanon, its democracy, and sovereignty".
After, the president met with Hizbullah's Loyalty to the Resistance bloc, and MP Mohammed Raad declared that they nominate Salam for premiership.

Similarly, the National Struggle Front, which has become comprised of eight lawmakers, endorsed Tammam Salam to head the new cabinet.
The last MPs to meet with the president on the first day of the binding parliamentary consultations were Michel Murr and Nayla Tueni who also named Salam for premiership.

For his part, Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh, who is scheduled to meet with Suleiman on Friday, announced in a released statement that he will boycott the parliamentary consultations because "Salam has clearly confirmed his political affiliation", allowing the members of the Free United Lebanon bloc to choose the nominee they want.

"I respect and appreciate Salam and his prestigious family with whom we have an old relationship, but announcing his nomination from the Center House on Thursday has clearly confirmed his affiliation with a political group."


Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org