Jumblat Voices Support for Salam, Warns against Political Exploitation of Protests

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat on Sunday threw his support behind Prime Minister Tammam Salam, after civil society demonstrators called for the premier's resignation in protest at the excessive force that was used against them on Saturday.

“We reiterate our full support for PM Tammam Salam, who showed once again in his press conference his level of wisdom, vision, patience and responsibility – characteristics that we are in dire need for amid these critical circumstances in Lebanon and the region,” said Jumblat in his weekly editorial in the PSP's al-Anbaa newspaper.

Calling for a “productive” cabinet session as soon as possible, the PSP leader said citizens' “legitimate demands” cannot be addressed through “usurping the popular protests and diverting them from their real objectives.”

Moreover, Jumblat warned that some political forces are trying to take advantage of the civil society demonstrations, cautioning that there are attempts to “expand the paralysis and obstruction and undermine the pillars of the system and stability.”

The PSP leader also reiterated his call for prosecuting the security officials and personnel who opened fire during Saturday's demonstration in downtown Beirut.

Earlier on Sunday, Salam said he was ready to meet with protesters, admitting that "excessive force" had been used against demonstrators.

Protesters headed back to central Beirut on Sunday morning, joining those who had spent the night there in tents after evening protests spiralled into clashes with security forces that left more than 50 demonstrators injured.

He also pledged to hold accountable those "responsible" for using "excessive force against civil society and against the people."

Protests in recent weeks have called for a comprehensive solution to Lebanon's trash crisis, which has seen piles of waste growing in Beirut and elsewhere since the country's largest landfill shut down on July 17. 

But demands posted online on Sunday by the "You Stink" campaign, which has organized recent protests, called for the government's resignation and parliamentary elections.

The group also called for the prosecution of security forces who had fired on protestors and of Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq.

Y.R.