Jumblat Hails 'Statesman' Hariri, Slams 'Campaigns' against Him

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat on Monday lauded the stances of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri over the cabinet formation process, describing him as a “statesman” who has put “the higher national interest” above all else.

“One must praise ex-PM Saad Hariri's stance, which came at a critical moment that Lebanon and the Arab region are going through, amid rapid changes and major transformations that are being accompanied by rivers of blood and incessant bleeding against the backdrop of unprecedented sectarian and religious divisions,” said Jumblat in his weekly op-ed in al-Anbaa.

“This subjected and is still subjecting Lebanon to further fragmentation and political and security exposure whose harbingers have surfaced with the terrorist bombings that are moving from one region to another and the political assassinations which have recently targeted former minister Mohammed Shatah,” Jumblat added.

He pointed out that through his latest stance, Hariri "has proved that he is a statesman who is capable of putting the higher national interest, stability and civil peace above all else."

"It reflects his deep understanding of the nature of the Lebanese system and the elements that compose it and the means to avoid more problems and obstacles on the domestic scene,” the PSP leader added, noting that “this positive shift is at the core of the principles championed by martyr premier Rafik Hariri: stability and building the state and its institutions.”

“That's why we condemn all the inflammatory political and media campaigns that criticized his latest stance, which are not based on any national considerations but rather on narrow partisan and factional considerations that ex-PM Hariri has risen above,” added Jumblat.

He praised Hariri for “overcoming difficulties and confidently opening a new page at the national level.”

Jumblat hoped that these “important stances” will be followed by “executive steps that contribute to reviving the faltering constitutional institutions and respecting the upcoming junctures that must be held in timely fashion.”

On Fridat, Hariri announced that he is showing positivity in the cabinet formation process, noting that Hizbullah is a political party that is leading a “big coalition.”

“We are positive regarding the cabinet formation process. This is something good for the country and for stability in the country,” Hariri said in an interview.

“We are trying to run the country together with everyone because we don't want to exclude anyone as Lebanon is going through a difficult period, especially after the international community miserably failed in addressing the Syrian issue,” he added.

Asked whether he was optimistic regarding the cabinet formation process, Hariri answered: “I'm very optimistic … I don't know when it will be formed but I'm optimistic.”

And in response to a question on whether there are any “red lines,” the ex-PM said: “Red lines are defined by the country's needs and we want the country to stabilize.”