Jumblat Rejects Aoun's Exclusion over Cabinet Decrees
Progressive Socialist Party chief MP Walid Jumblat rejected the exclusion of Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun from political decision-making to avoid further tension.
“Aoun should not be shut out,” Jumblat told As Safir daily published on Friday. “I understand his position from the signature of the decrees and I believe that some of them should be approved after consulting him.”
The ministers of the FPM, Hizbullah, Tashnag Party and Marada Movement boycotted Thursday's cabinet session after Aoun accused Prime Minister Tammam Salam of infringing on the Christian president's authorities in his absence by only garnering the signatures of 18 out of the 24 ministers on around 70 decrees.
The four parties stress that the decrees require unanimous approval.
“The issue of decrees should not be used (as a pretext) to exclude” Aoun, said Jumblat.
“We don't need more political tension and we should not boycott each other. On the contrary, we should consolidate dialogue, particularly at this stage,” the PSP chief added.
Jumblat spoke by telephone with Aoun on Thursday to discuss the political dispute that is crippling the cabinet’s work.
Jumblat told Aoun that he is counting on his wisdom in this difficult stage, according to a statement released by the PSP's press office.
The lawmaker also stressed his keenness to continue consultations with Aoun, the statement said.
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