Jumblat: Are We Supposed to Believe that Aoun’s Demands are Behind Delay in Govt Formation
Druze leader MP Walid Jumblat has informed the leadership of the Progressive Socialist Party that he cannot stand idly by in the face of the cabinet formation impasse, wondering whether he was supposed to believe that Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun’s insistence on getting one or two portfolios was the real reason behind the delay, sources close to Jumblat said.
“An ordinary citizen would not believe that, so how is Jumblat supposed to believe it,” the sources told pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat in remarks published Sunday.
Jumblat was responding to his party members’ questions concerning his latest stance voiced in an interview with Al-Akhbar daily that “Hizbullah doesn’t want the new cabinet to be formed”.
“The PSP leader is a partner in this (new parliamentary) majority and he bears the consequences that ensue accordingly. He believes that it would not be reasonable to address General Aoun’s obstructive demands at the expense of the country,” the sources added.
Asked about how much Hizbullah is willing to try to convince Aoun of reducing his demands, the sources said: “If Hizbullah does not want to abandon Aoun as its leadership is saying, no one is calling for abandoning him, but can anyone say that the cabinet formation process is flawless?”
“If it is true that U.S. and Israeli pressures are behind the cabinet formation impasse, as Hizbullah and General Aoun are claiming, shouldn’t they respond by forming a new cabinet in order to frustrate these pressures?” the sources wondered.
“If the reason of the delay is (premier-designate Najib) Miqati’s submission to these pressures, as General Aoun and Hizbullah are claiming, is it reasonable that Miqati is defying the collective will of Aoun, Hizbullah, Jumblat, the other new majority factions, Syria and Iran? This makes no sense,” the sources added.
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