Jumblat Wants 'Consensual' President, Says Hizbullah's Decision to Withdraw from Syria 'Not in Lebanon'

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat stated on Wednesday that he supports electing a “consensual” president, remarking also that there is a great possibility to reach “an acceptable ministerial policy statement formula.”

"We can reach an agreement on an unacceptable formula to mention the resistance in the ministerial policy statement as Arabic is a rich language and allows for this,” Jumblat said in an interview with Future TV.

He added: “It is important also to take into consideration that a part of Lebanon is occupied by Israel and the Lebanese state and people have the right to resist.”

The ministerial committee tasked with drafting a policy statement held its sixth meeting on Wednesday afternoon amid disagreement between political foes on several issues.

The March 14 camps insists on mentioning the Baabda Declaration in the statement while their March 8 rivals demanded a reference to the army-people-resistance equation.

The PSP leader, meanwhile, refused to nominate a candidate for the presidency, explaining that “it is still too early.”

"But we must have a consensual head of state and this requires coordination on this matter between speaker (Nabih) Berri and (former prime minister) Saad Hariri,” Jumblat stressed.

On the regional turmoil and its consequences on Lebanon, he considered that “decreasing repercussions could be achieved through dialogue and through electing a consensual president.”

"Then we can face these crises especially that Syria is subjected to this tough war and maybe also to partition,” he said.

"And when we call on Hizbullah to withdraw its fighters from Syria we must know that the decision in this matter is not taken in Lebanon,” the Druze leader lamented.