The leader of Tachnag, MP Hagop Pakradounian. (Photo taken from his Facebook page)
The Tashnag party criticized on Tuesday the prime minister-designate, Nawaf Salam, urging him to address the composition of the ministerial cabinet "according to unified criteria that ensure the support of parliamentary forces."
"Double standards are unacceptable in government formation," the party stated, emphasizing the need to "treat all political and confessional components equally."
In a statement, the Armenian party led by MP Hagop Pakradounian denounced a "phobia" against "anyone experienced in public affairs ... While we understand the desire to avoid including party members in the government and to seek to form the cabinet from personalities without obvious partisan affiliation, this does not mean turning government formation into a phobia against anyone with experience in public affairs, as the Lebanese people are cultured and politically engaged," the statement said.
After the election of President Joseph Aoun on Jan. 9, 2025, Salam, diplomat and president of the International Court of Justice, was chosen as prime minister on Jan. 13, 2025, with 84 votes out of 128 MPs.
Tashnag also urged the prime minister-designate not to impose the names of personalities "having no connection with the communities" they are supposed to represent.
"The slogan aimed at preventing the government from turning into a parliamentary chamber or a small community council should not result in imposing personalities who have no connection with the communities they are supposed to represent," Tashnag stated.
Government formation is particularly hindered by the demands of traditional political parties, in particular by the Hezbollah-Amal alliance, which insists on obtaining the Finance Ministry. This has led other political parties, notably the Lebanese Forces (LF), to also claim a significant ministry.
Salam said a few days ago that he would not backtrack on the criteria he defined from the start: Namely, a government based on the principle of separation between Parliament and government, grounded on high national competencies, with no candidates for municipal or parliamentary elections, and where traditional parties are not represented.
Tashnag also said that it "relies on the presidential term to lead Lebanon out of the vicious circle of successive crises and misfortunes," expressing the understanding that an exceptional government is necessary to initiate reforms, reconstruction, and institutional and economic revival. It urged "the entire political class to approach government formation in a spirit of cooperation and facilitation of the mission of the president and the prime minister-designate."