Cabinet of Tammam Salam

Cabinet of Tammam Salam

Cabinet of Lebanon
Tammam Salam
Date formed15 February 2014 (2014-02-15)
Date dissolved18 December 2016 (2016-12-18)
People and organisations
Presidenthimself
Head of governmentTammam Salam
Deputy head of governmentSamir Moqbel
No. of ministers24
Total no. of members24
History
PredecessorSecond Cabinet of Najib Mikati
SuccessorSecond 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.[citation needed]

The government would be the sixth one designated to oversee parliamentary elections since Lebanon's independence in 1943 takes place (the previous five governments designated for such purpose were: the one formed in 1964 lasted for two months; 1960 and 2005 lasted for three months; 1951 and 1953 for four). Although, finally, parliamemtary elections of 2014 were postponed; shutdown of the Cabinet of Tammam Salam (in December 2016) had happened before the parliamentary elections in Lebanon (in May 2018) really took 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 in 2013 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.[citation needed]

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.[7]

Government formation

On 15 February 2014, Salam announced a national unity government of 24 ministers, including March 8 and March 14 alliances,[8] and independents. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon[9] and the European Union's High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton welcomed the formation of the government.[10] 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.[7] Due to lack of political agreement, the presidential election was postponed numerous times. Therefore, the presidency had been vacant since May 25, 2014 and it was up to the government to be vested with all executive power (The absence of presidential power had already occurred twice in the history of Lebanon in 1988 and 2007.).

Composition

Lebanese government of April 2013
Portfolio (Ministry)[11][12] Minister Political affiliation Religious Sect
Independents (8/24)
President Michel Sleiman's Share (3/24)
Deputy Prime Minister
and Defence		 Samir Mouqbel   Independent Greek Orthodox
Displaced Alice Shabtini   Independent Maronite
Youth and Sports Abdel Mouttaleb Hennaoui   Independent Shia
Prime Minister Tammam Salam's Share (3/24)
Prime Minister Tammam Salam   Future Movement Sunni
Environment Mohamed Machnouk   Independent Sunni
Social Affairs Rashid Derbass   Independent Sunni
National Struggle Front[citation needed] (2/24)
Public Health Wael Abou Faour   Progressive Socialist Party Druze
Agriculture Akram Chehayeb   Progressive Socialist Party Druze
March 8 Alliance (8/24)
Change and Reform bloc (4/24)
Foreign and Expatriates Gebran Bassil   Free Patriotic Movement Maronite
Education and Higher Learning Elias Bou Saab   Free Patriotic Movement Greek Orthodox
Culture Raymond Araiji   Marada Movement Maronite
Energy and Water Arthur Nazarian   Tashnag Armenian
Amal Movement (2/24)
Finance Ali Hassan Khalil   Amal Movement Shia
Public Works and Transportation Ghazi Zaiter   Amal Movement Shia
Loyalty to the Resistance bloc (2/24)
Industry Hussein Hajj Hassan   Hezbollah Shia
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Muhammad Fneish   Hezbollah Shia
March 14 Alliance (8/24)
Future Movement (3/24)
Interior and Municipalities Nouhad Machnouk   Future Movement Sunni
Minister of State for Administrative Development Nabil de Freige   Future Movement Roman Catholic
Minister of Justice Ashraf Rifi   Independent Sunni
Kataeb Party (3/24)
Labour Sejaan Kazzi   Kataeb Party Maronite
Economy and Trade Alain Hakim   Kataeb Party Greek Catholic
Information Ramzi Jreij   Independent Greek Orthodox
Others (2/24)
Tourism Michel Pharaon   Independent Greek Catholic
Telecommunications Boutros Harb   Independent Maronite

Resignation

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]

References

  1. ^ Nassif, Nicolas (9 April 2013). "Tammam Salam Interview: I Am Your Savior, Maybe". Al Akhbar. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  2. ^ "Mikati's Resignation Shakes Up". Al Monitor. 12 March 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  3. ^ "Lebanese president accepts premier's resignation". The Wenatchee World. Associated Press. 23 March 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  4. ^ "Tammam Salam builds consensus to be Lebanon's new prime minister". Al Arabiya. 5 April 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  5. ^ "Lebanon picks Salam as new prime minister". Al Jazeera. 6 April 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  6. ^ Mourtada, Hania (6 April 2013). "Sunni Leader Is Named Prime Minister in Lebanon". The New York Times. Beirut. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  7. ^ a b "Lebanon's PM forms 'unity cabinet'". The Irish Independent.
  8. ^ "Lebanese PM unveils national unity cabinet". Al Jazeera. 15 February 2014.
  9. ^ "Security Council, Ban welcome formation of new Government in Lebanon". United Nations. 15 February 2014.
  10. ^ "Ashton congratulate Tammam Salam on the formation of the new government". iloubnan.info.
  11. ^ "Lebanon forms government after 10-month deadlock".
  12. ^ "Names of ministers announced in Cabinet of Tammam Salam".
  13. ^ "Declaration of new Cabinet: 30 Ministers, 5 innovative Ministries".
Preceded by List of Lebanese governments Succeeded by