Salam named Lebanon\'s new PM with overwhelming support

Tamam Salam has been chosen after 2-days of political consultations at the presidential palace Lebanese politician Tamam Salam has been named as Lebanon's new prime minister and tasked with forming a government, the presidency has confirmed ."President Michel Sleiman has tasked Tamam Salam with forming a new government," the president's office said in a statement.
 The Sunni Muslim politician succeeds former Prime Minister Najib Mikati. The move came after two days of consultations in which two of the biggest parliamentary blocs, March 8 and March 14, reached a rare consensus in their support of Salam to lead the country's new government. Salam won the endorsement of 124 of the 128 parliamentarians, including the country's Shiite parties including Hezbollah.
Earlier on Saturday, Lebanese President Michel Sleiman resumed his consultations with political groups at the presidential palace for a second consecutive day.
Sleiman met representatives from the Zohla parliamentary bloc and held talks with George Idwan MP from the Lebanese Forces parliamentary bloc in the morning. Both groups confirmed Salam has their backing.
There was further support for Salam from Kataeb Party, along with Wehdet el-Jabal bloc, Free Decision bloc, and Beirut’s Decision bloc.
On Friday, President Sleiman held separate meetings with senior Lebanese politicians about the political situation in Lebanon. His first meeting was with speaker Berri, who left without making any statement to the media.
The president then received head of the caretaker government Mikati, who later told reporters: "I have called for Tamam Salam MP to be handed the task of forming a new government."
Sleiman's next meeting was with Vice-President of the Lebanese Parliament Farid Makari, who also confirmed that he had backed Tamam to take charge. Makari explained that Salam's popularity is down to his credible political history, and a moderate and open personality. "I hope Salam's new government would conduct parliamentary elections as their basic task, and take care of all the country's affairs to cover part of the shortfall that happened recently," Makari said.
"The next government need to be a government of national unity that represents all the people of Lebanon," he added.
President Sleiman met deputies from the Development and Liberation bloc, and after the meeting, Anwar al-Khalil MP said: "We assured the president that we support [Tamam] Salam to form the new government, and we wish him luck."
Delegates from the Future Movement, led by leader Fouad Siniora discussed the matter with President Sleiman too. Afterwards, Siniora issued a statement confirming the party's support for Salam. "We have named Tamam Salam as our candidate to form the new Lebanese government. Our approval stems from our convictions of the perception of the common homeland, and our faith in the independence and sovereignty of Lebanon," Siniora explained.
Secretary-General of the Change and Reform bloc, Ibrahim Kanaan spoke on behalf of the group after his meeting with President Sleiman. He added his voice to parties supporting Salam, and President Sleiman also held talks with representatives from the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc. The group's spokesperson Mohammad Raad MP said: "As confirmation of our openness to any move that could push towards understanding, or open horizons to form a government of national unity, we name his excellency Mr Tamam Salam to form the government, wishing him success in his mission, and for Lebanon's stability and recovery. "
Head of the National Struggle Front parliamentary bloc Walid Jumblatt MP met President Sleiman at the presidential palace and affirmed his support for Salam. In a statement on behalf of the group, the Druze leader thanked former Prime Minister Mikati for his efforts.
President Sleiman also met Metn bloc representatives Michel Murr MP and Nayla Tueni MP. Afterwards, Murr confirmed his support for Salam to form the new government.
Michel Aoun MP did not attend his scheduled consultations with Sleiman while his ally Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh said he would boycott the talks.
Aoun, head of the Free Patriotic Movement, said Friday he endorsed Salam and that lawmakers from his Change and Reform bloc will attend the sessions without him.
Franjieh issued a statement in which he said he would boycott the consultations given that Salam was a March 14 figure, and not a consensus candidate.
"I respect and appreciate Salam and his prestigious family, with whom we have an old relationship, but announcing his nomination at Saad Hariri's residence on Thursday has clearly confirmed his affiliation with a political group," he said
"So I have decided to boycott parliamentary consultations and to grant freedom to members of the bloc to take the choice they want," he added.