Jumblat Does not Expect Solution to Resistance Row before March 14 Rally

The cabinet is not likely to reach a deal on the controversial resistance clause of the policy statement before a rally organized by the March 14 alliance on Friday afternoon, Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat said.

In remarks carried by al-Akhbar daily, Jumblat did not expect a deal on the clause although Prime Minister Tammam Salam was eager for the cabinet to meet before the rally to avoid a further deterioration in the row between the March 8 and 14 alliances.

Speaker Nabih Berri says the government has until Monday to agree on the political blueprint or else it would be considered resigned.

But Jumblat hinted that the Constitution does not directly specify that. “The deadline is not conclusive and we can overcome it,” he said.

Article 64 of the Constitution states the following: “The cabinet must present its general statement of policy to the Chamber and gain its confidence within thirty days of the day of issuance of the decree in which the cabinet was formed.”

But it does not state that the government would be considered resigned after the deadline expires.

Jumblat also told al-Akhbar that the March 8 and 14 alliances were disagreeing on who would resist occupation.

“Who will resist? Lebanon or the Lebanese? It is natural for the people” to do so, he said.

The March 8 camp wants to legitimize Hizbullah's arms in the resistance clause but March 14 is demanding that the resistance be put under the state's authority.

Their dispute brought the cabinet on the brink of collapse after Salam threatened that he would resign to express his dismay at the failure to reach a deal on the policy statement.

But a last-minute deal could avoid a crisis.