Mustaqbal-PSP Coordination Advances amid Reported 2nd Meeting between Jumblat's Envoy and Hariri

Coordination between al-Mustaqbal movement and the Progressive Socialist Party on the best candidate for the post of the prime minister has made strong progress, reports said Thursday.

Several dailies said Caretaker Minister Wael Abou Faour, who had held talks with al-Mustaqbal chief Saad Hariri in Riyadh, briefed President Michel Suleiman on Tuesday on the results of his meeting in the Saudi capital and then traveled back there for another round of talks with Hariri.

The reports said an initial agreement has been reached between al-Mustaqbal and the PSP of MP Walid Jumblat for the formation of a cabinet whose main task will be to oversee the parliamentary elections, which they said should be held on time.

PSP sources told al-Mustaqbal daily that Jumblat's main concern is to agree with the rest of the factions on holding the polls on time which would facilitate an agreement on the name of the premier-designate.

Jumblat on Tuesday stressed that he will not “voice any stance or comment” on his candidate for the premiership before his upcoming TV interview on Thursday evening.

In his remarks to al-Manar television, Jumblat declined to comment on a report by As Safir daily claiming that he will back Hariri's pick for the premiership.

The newspaper said Tuesday that a deal was struck during Abu Faour's first visit to Riyadh for Jumblat's National Struggle Front bloc to name the same person that Hariri will back for the premiership on condition that he be a non-provocative man and acceptable by all sides.

Al-Mustaqbal has called for the formation of a new cabinet whose members are not candidates for the elections.