Jumblat Rejects 'Political Maneuvering' over 1960 Law until Agreement on New One is Reached

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat stressed on Monday his commitment to staging the parliamentary elections on time.

He rejected “political maneuvering over the 1960 electoral law until an agreement over a new one is reached.”

He made his remarks in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa website.

He remarked: “The 1960 law remains in effect until an agreement over a new one is reached and until an agreement is reached to stage the polls away from intentions to postpone them.”

“Parliamentary elections are a central process in the transition of power,” Jumblat added.

Commenting on the appointment of MP Tammam Salam as premier-designate, he noted that he was right in labeling the government he is set to form as that of “national interests.”

“Such a cabinet should remain above all considerations and we will exert all efforts and support to help him achieve his mission during this critical political phase,” the MP stated.

“All political powers that nominated him should help facilitate his mission and cease making impossible conditions as had happened during past processes to form a government,” he remarked.

“The current situation requires all political powers to halt bickering over ministerial portfolios and pave the way for the speedy formation of a cabinet, which will be faced with several missions,” Jumblat added.

The first of these missions should be “committing to the policy of disassociation from the Syrian crisis,” he stressed.