Jumblat to Boycott ‘Useless’ Dialogue, Urges Cabinet to Convene ‘Immediately’

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat said he would not attend the national dialogue, proposed by President Michel Aoun.

Jumblat told al-Joumhouria newspaper, in remarks published Wednesday, that he had made up his mind since the beginning, adding that the dialogue is “useless.”

“What will the dialogue discuss? The defense strategy has been rejected and discussing it is vain. The other side has refused it since the days of ex-President Michel Suleiman,” Jumblat said.

He added that the financial and economic recovery plan and the administrative and financial decentralization should be discussed in Cabinet. “This is why, it would be better for Cabinet to convene instead of running away to a useless dialogue,” Jumblat affirmed.

The PSP leader stressed that Cabinet should convene “immediately” to stop the “collapse.”

"The real test lies in dealing with international institutions and the International Monetary Fund,” he concluded, hinting that Hizbullah does not want to reach an agreement with the IMF.

“At the times of ex-PM Hassan Diab, Hizbullah gave a timid sign of approval, but it was later lost,” Jumblat claimed.