Jumblat Urges Reviving 'National Aspect' of Presidential Vote instead of 'Limiting it to Christians'
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Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat on Sunday called for “thinking of new solutions to overcome the current situation” in the presidential crisis, calling for “reviving the national aspect of this juncture instead of limiting it to the Christian parties.”
“In the face of the procrastination and obstinacy in the stances of the political forces towards the issue of the presidential election, after long months of presidential void, and given the rise in the intensity of the regional conflicts around Lebanon, it has become necessary to think of new solutions to overcome the current situation,” said Jumblat in his weekly editorial in the PSP's al-Anbaa electronic magazine.
“Perhaps the first idea to reach a new stage in this regard should be reviving the national aspect of this juncture instead of limiting it to the Christian parties, because this would detract from the president's role as a unifier of all Lebanese,” Jumblat added.
Lebanon has been without a president since May when the term of Michel Suleiman ended without the election of a successor. Ongoing disputes between the rival March 8 and 14 camps have torpedoed the elections.
Dialogue got underway recently between two key Christian parties – the Free Patriotic Movement and the Lebanese Forces – and the stalled presidential vote is one of the main topics.
“A long time has passed amid the absence of serious agreements over the characteristics of the new president, and this requires the cooperation of the rest of parties on the basis of consultation instead of monopolizing the decision,” Jumblat went on to say.
He warned that the continued vacuum could “gradually lead to usurping some presidential powers by disregarding the previous norms and producing new ones through successive mechanisms that might be approved by the council of ministers.”
“This may give the impression that the country is moving forward normally without the need to elect a new president,” Jumblat cautioned.
He also called on all political parties to “admit that a presidential settlement is inevitable” instead of “awaiting the outcome of foreign agreements that might require a long time.”
“Amid the accumulation of the foreign challenges, we need to immunize internal stability and activate the work of institutions,” Jumblat added.
Y.R.
08 February 2015, 19:13
11
Jumblatt is correct that with the passage of time, the aberration of Lebanon without its president is becoming the norm. Life goes on, a new plateau is developed where a certain stability sets in so that the election of a President can become a "destabilizing" event and therefore one to be avoided.
08 February 2015, 19:19
22
However, he is wrong to say that the decision is now with the Christian parties and needs to be nationalized. This is in correct. If he is referring to the FPM, Aoun is the Iranian proxy, obstruction the election as it is in Iran and Hezbollah's interest right now not to have a rival for authority in Lebanon, such as a duly elected government. So, this is the Shia Muslims speaking, not a Christian party.
Second, Jumblatt has put forward Henri Helou as his candidate. His presence means that Geagea and Aoun can't go to Parliament for an up or down vote and expect to win a majority. So, Jumblatt, a Druze, maybe acting on behalf of KSA is also an impediment to the election. Let him withdraw Helou and we can go to Parliament and get a vote.
08 February 2015, 21:00
22
Is he sensing a deal between Geagea and Aoun now, and thereby desperately stir in the kettle?
08 February 2015, 21:03
11
9 months without a president makes it clear that Lebanon really does not need one.
We should vote to scrap it. The Lebanese taxpayer will win. It is exactly like the Monarchy in the UK. It is not really needed, except that it gives some dignity, glamour and attracts tourists by the millions to the UK.
The Lebanese presidency is also symbolic. An Arab country with a Maronite head of state. But it seems that the Maronites want it so much that they are suffocating it with their love.
As a head of state, Aoun will be our Queen. Will he attract tourists with Baabda Palace and Prince Gibran? Will they attract international media attention? Don't think so, unless they both wear tiaras and their best ball gowns.
09 February 2015, 11:21
10
They are just keep on giving them bread to avoid a rebellion and too boost their chances in future elections..
09 February 2015, 13:49
30
Jombie, in this case what are you doing here pretending to lead a people? You should be working in a zoo. If you're talking of the Lebanese Presidency, then you people should also do the same of the PM and Speaker's posts. Silly philistine.
