Jumblat Confirms Blaming Hizbullah for Deadlock Out of Keenness on Resistance, Stability

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat has confirmed that he blamed Hizbullah for the cabinet impasse out of his keenness on the resistance and its achievements.

In a statement posted on his party’s website, the Druze leader admitted to saying that Hizbullah did not want the government to be formed and was putting Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun at the forefront.

Jumblat had made the remarks to al-Akhbar daily on Friday. However, he said in his statement that the article’s headline of “Hizbullah Does Not Want a Cabinet” had created a misunderstanding.

The PSP chief said that he made the remarks “out of his keenness on the resistance and its achievements, the Lebanese economy, and the local stability, particularly after a four-month delay in the formation of the new government.”

Jumblat stressed that he did not intend to hold Hizbullah responsible or enter into a dispute with it. The objective behind his stance was to “stress that the country should not remain without a cabinet” amid an economic crisis and the disintegration of the public administration.

According to Jumblat, the clash between Caretaker Telecommunications Minister Charbel Nahhas and members of the Internal Security Forces at a building affiliated with the ministry on Thursday is “an example of what could take place if the impasse and paralysis continue.”

“It is strange that some members of the new majority are pushing it towards failure,” the lawmaker said, adding that the telecom incident was “proof of the failure of others in their caretaking mission,” in a reference to Caretaker Interior Minister Ziad Baroud who gave up his mission after ISF chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi refused to abide by his orders to clear the building of his men.

“Let this cry be considered as an alarm bell,” Jumblat added.