FPM to vote no-confidence in Salam's govt

The Free Patriotic Movement will likely withhold confidence from the government, MP Salim Aoun said Monday in a radio interview, as Parliament is set to meet on Tuesday and Wednesday for a vote of confidence in the new government formed by PM-designate Nawaf Salam.

"The statements are good, but the experience with PM Nawaf Salam's line-up was not promising," MP Aoun said.

Last month, Salam won sweeping support from legislators including the FPM MPs, while Hezbollah and ally Amal did not back Salam but later participated in the binding parliamentary consultations.

In its ministerial statement, the new government said the state should be the sole bearer of arms in Lebanon.

The two allies, Amal and Hezbollah, will likely grant confidence to the new government, as Hezbollah's new leader voiced support for state institutions, saying on many occasions that "the Lebanese state" is now responsible for following up on the ceasefire and ending Israel's occupation and violations through diplomatic channels.

Unlike Amal and Hezbollah, the FPM was excluded from Salam's government, and its leader Jebran Bassil said the government line-up was "arbitrary and unfair" and that his party is now "in opposition".

Salam said that the FPM tried to "impose its standards" on him, such as "the size of representation and number of ministers."