Reports: Jumblat Bloc to Submit Candidacy Requests Tuesday

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat and the members of his National Struggle Front parliamentary bloc will submit their candidacies for the parliamentary elections to the interior ministry on Tuesday, according to media reports.

MTV quoted PSP's secretary general Zafer Nasser as saying that “the party's MPs will file their nominations after the (Easter) holiday to reject the postponement of elections and the extension of parliament's mandate.”

According to information obtained by LBCI television, Jumblat and the five members of his bloc, as well as other candidates, have signed their candidacy requests and prepared all the necessary documents in order to file the nominations before the constitutional deadline – April 9.

“They will likely file the requests on Tuesday,” LBCI's report said.

The TV network quoted PSP sources as saying that the move aims to underline the party's insistence on holding the elections on time and according to the 1960 law.

According to the sources, the step will also reflect that the 1960 law is still in force and that it is “constitutional and legal,” adding that the move would support and complement President Michel Suleiman's stance and his demand that the electoral supervisory committee be formed as well as his rejection of a possible delay of elections and extension of parliament's mandate.

Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel has said that he would suggest a technical postponement of the parliamentary elections for three months amid a deadlock on the new cabinet and the vote law.

In remarks to al-Liwaa daily published on Saturday, Charbel said his proposal “would give the consultations aimed at reaching consensus on the electoral law and the government” more time.

He said that the caretaker cabinet can supervise the elections if the rival parties were able to agree on a vote law before June 20 when the term of the legislature expires.

But under such a circumstance, the elections that are set to be held on June 9 will have to be postponed.

“I think that agreement should first be reached on the electoral draft-law and then set the date for the elections,” Charbel told al-Liwaa. “Then they could strike a deal on the government so that we don't fall into a vacuum.”

The rival parties have so far failed to agree on an electoral draft-law. The resignation of Prime Minister Najib Miqati complicated the crisis after signs began appearing that the Hizbullah led March 8 forces are seeking a national salvation cabinet while the March 14 opposition alliance wants a neutral government.

Miqati's resignation came last week over the rejection of Hizbullah and its allies a proposal to extend the tenure of Internal security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi and form the authority that would supervise the elections over fears that the polls would be held based on the 1960 law which they totally reject.

Several proposals have been made but the conditions set by each party have prevented a deal on the vote law.