Jumblat to meet Bassil after talks with Mouawad

Following a lengthy break in ties and a political clash between the Free Patriotic Movement and the Progressive Socialist Party, a mediator has managed to set up a meeting between FPM chief Jebran Bassil and PSP leader Walid Jumblat, al-Jadeed TV has reported.

The meeting will be held Friday over a lunch banquet attended by MP Taymour Jumblat, the TV network added.

“This meeting comes following an initiative from Bassil, who had previously expressed his desire to discuss the presidential file with Jumblat through several mediators. However, all the previous mediations did not lead to a result,” al-Jadeed said.

It added that Bassil is working on blocking the election of Suleiman Franjieh as president through a host of meetings that he intends to make, while Jumblat for his part is decrying that the term of Army Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Amin al-Orm has not been extended.

“Accordingly, his meeting with Bassil might be a gateway for the signature of Defense Minister Maurice Slim on the extension decree,” al-Jadeed added.

The expected meeting comes following talks Thursday evening in Clemenceau between Jumblat and presidential candidate MP Michel Mouawad.

According to the National News Agency, the Jumblat-Mouawad meeting discussed the general situations and the latest political developments.