Cabinet of Tammam Salam explained

Cabinet Name:Cabinet of Tammam Salam
Opposition Leaders:-->
Total Number:24
Members Number:24
State Head:himself
State Head Title:President
Deputy Government Head:Samir Moqbel
Government Head:Tammam Salam
Caption:Tammam Salam
Flag Border:true
Flag:Flag of Lebanon.svg
Jurisdiction:Lebanon
Predecessor:Second Cabinet of Najib Mikati
Successor:Second Cabinet of Saad Hariri

The formation of a new government led by Tammam Salam followed two weeks of negotiations after the resignation of Najib Mikati's government. Salam's candidacy was backed by the March 14 Alliance, the Progressive Socialist Party, Najib Mikati and the Amal Movement.

The government would be the sixth one designated to oversee elections since Lebanon's independence in 1943 when the 2014 general election takes place.[1] A national unity government was announced on 15 February 2014. Despite his nomination by 124 of 128 MPs, Salam then failed to form a consensus government amidst political demands. Salam finally announced his proposed cabinet that included members from the March 8 and March 14 alliances, as well as independents on 15 February 2014.

Background

The Mikati government fell after Najib Mikati's resignation on 22 March 2013 over his attempt to form a committee to oversee the next general election in opposition to Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), Hezbollah and Amal Movement ministers, as well as an attempt to extend the term of Major General Ashraf Rifi, the head of the Internal Security Forces (ISF), who was scheduled to retire in April,[2] due to a mandatory age limit.[3]

Nomination of Tammam Salam

Tammam Salam's emergence as the consensus candidate followed discussion in Saudi Arabia and also had the backing of March 14, Mikati and Amal. PSP leader Walid Jumblatt also supported him saying: "Salam is the voice of moderation... He’s never said a bad word against the resistance." Former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora also said that he was a "unanimous" choice because of his "national and moral engagement. We wish Mr. Salam good luck in leading the country through the present circumstances." Salam then said: "It’s a great national responsibility...I thank my brothers in the March 14 coalition."[4] On 6 April, he got 124 of the 128 parliamentary votes to become prime minister and was consequently tasked by President Michel Suleiman to form a government.

Salam reacted in saying: "There is a need to bring Lebanon out of its state of division and political fragmentation, as reflected on the security situation, and to ward off the risks brought by the tragic situation in the neighbouring [Syria] and by regional tensions."[5] He also said that he intends to form a national unity government instead of a partisan one saying that "the consensus around my nomination is the biggest proof of the intention of political forces to save the country."[6] Future Movement leader Saad Hariri had said that he was willing to share power with Hezbollah if the cabinet formation deadlock was ended while Hezbollah abandoned a demand that it and its allies be given veto power in the new cabinet.

Government formation

On 15 February 2014, Salam announced a national unity government of 24 ministers, including March 8 and March 14 alliances,[7] and independents. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon[8] and the European Union's High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton welcomed the formation of the government.[9] While Salam said the government would "strengthen national security and stand against all kinds of terrorism" and face the social issue of about a million Syrian refugees in Lebanon, it would also lead to the 2014 Lebanese presidential election.[10]

Composition

Lebanese government of April 2013
td width="25%" style="border-bottom:1px solid; background:#efefef;"Portfolio (Ministry)[11] [12] td width="20%" style="border-bottom:1px solid; background:#efefef;"Ministertd width="35%" style="border-bottom:1px solid; background:#efefef;"Political affiliationtd width="20%" style="border-bottom:1px solid; background:#efefef;"Religious Sect
Independents (8/24)
President Michel Sleiman's Share (3/24)
Deputy Prime Minister
and Defence
Greek Orthodox
Displaced
Youth and Sports Shia
Prime Minister Tammam Salam's Share (3/24)
Prime Minister Future MovementSunni
Environment
Social Affairs
National Struggle Front (2/24)
Public Health
Agriculture
March 8 Alliance (8/24)
Change and Reform bloc (4/24)
Foreign and Expatriates Maronite
Education and Higher Learning Greek Orthodox
Culture Maronite
Energy and WaterArthur NazarianArmenian
Amal Movement (2/24)
Finance Shia
Public Works and Transportation Shia
Loyalty to the Resistance bloc (2/24)
Industry Shia
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Shia
March 14 Alliance (8/24)
Future Movement (3/24)
Interior and Municipalities Future MovementSunni
Minister of State for Administrative Development Roman Catholic
Minister of Justice
Kataeb Party (3/24)
Labour Kataeb PartyMaronite
Economy and Trade
Information Greek Orthodox
Others (2/24)
Tourism
Telecommunications

Resignation

See main article: Lebanese government of December 2016. On 18 December 2016, the Ministry of Information announced the dissolution of the Cabinet, and the formation of a new Cabinet under Saad Hariri.[13]

Notes and References

  1. News: Nassif. Nicolas. Tammam Salam Interview: I Am Your Savior, Maybe. 9 April 2013. Al Akhbar. 9 April 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130411063611/http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/tammam-salam-interview-i-am-your-savior-maybe. 11 April 2013. dead.
  2. News: Mikati's Resignation Shakes Up. Al Monitor. 12 March 2013. 5 April 2013.
  3. News: Lebanese president accepts premier's resignation. 5 April 2013. The Wenatchee World. 23 March 2013. Associated Press.
  4. News: Tammam Salam builds consensus to be Lebanon's new prime minister. Al Arabiya. 5 April 2013. 29 June 2013.
  5. News: Lebanon picks Salam as new prime minister. Al Jazeera. 6 April 2013. 29 June 2013.
  6. News: Mourtada. Hania. Sunni Leader Is Named Prime Minister in Lebanon. 29 June 2013. The New York Times. 6 April 2013. Beirut.
  7. Web site: Lebanese PM unveils national unity cabinet. Al Jazeera. 15 February 2014.
  8. Web site: Security Council, Ban welcome formation of new Government in Lebanon. United Nations. 15 February 2014.
  9. Web site: Ashton congratulate Tammam Salam on the formation of the new government. iloubnan.info.
  10. Web site: Lebanon's PM forms 'unity cabinet'. The Irish Independent .
  11. Web site: Lebanon forms government after 10-month deadlock.
  12. Web site: Names of ministers announced in Cabinet of Tammam Salam.
  13. Web site: Declaration of new Cabinet: 30 Ministers, 5 innovative Ministries.