Progressive Socialist Party chief MP Jumblat and Kataeb Party leader Amin Gemayel discussed on Thursday an initiative to preserve state institutions, mainly the Lebanese army.

“We hope for a modest initiative to back institutions, mainly the army, and those that preserve the state and the Republic,” said Jumblat after visiting Gemayel at his residence in Bikfaya.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat welcomed on Wednesday Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Michel Aoun's national considerations into running for the presidency.

“I am convinced with Aoun's patriotic rational behind his candidacy,” said Jumblat following talks with the FPM leader in Clemenceau.

Minister of Justice Ashraf Rifi on Monday committed himself to speed up the trials of the Islamist prisoners in Roumieh jail, amid political appeals to the judiciary to finalize this file on hope that it may reflect positively on the case of the kidnapped soldiers.

“Justice stops all kinds of chaos, violence and revenge; organizes the relationship between citizens and their government; and protects their rights, dignity and citizenship,” Rifi said in a statement addressed to the judicial authority on the occasion of the new judicial year.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat noted on Monday that Lebanon is carrying a “major burden” in combating terrorism, which should lead to providing it with proper military and logistic support.

He said in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa website: “The West should not forget Lebanon in its plan to combat terrorism.”

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun's chances to reach the presidency post still exist, al-Liwaa newspaper reported on Monday.

The daily reported that Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, Aoun's son-in-law, with his Saudi and U.S. counterparts in Jeddah last week the ongoing presidential deadlock in Lebanon.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat questioned on Sunday the delay and stalling in the trials of Islamist inmates held in Roumieh Prison.

He demanded that a speedy trial be held for them, revealing that a judge had informed him that should swift measures be taken, the proceedings would take a few days to complete.

A total of 162 candidates have so far submitted their nominations for the parliamentary elections as the deadline for the submissions looms on midnight on Tuesday, reported An Nahar daily on Sunday.

The Development and Liberation bloc of Speaker Nabih Berri and the Free Patriotic Movement MPs of Michel Aoun have submitted their candidacies, while the Mustaqbal bloc is expected to do so on Monday.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat has rejected the so-called self-security, reiterating his warning from the rise of terrorist threats in Lebanon and inquiring the U.S. about planned airstrikes against jihadists in the region.

“Self-security leads to total chaos,” Jumblat warned in remarks published in As Safir newspaper on Friday amid reports that certain Lebanese factions were arming themselves to confront terrorists.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat on Monday stressed the importance of setting up a new regional system, “which includes Turkey and Iran,” to replace the Arab League and fight terrorism, calling against excluding Russia from any solutions in Syria.

“The Arab world will not be able to confront this challenge alone, and it's about time we reconsidered the concept of the Arab League and worked on establishing a new regional system, through expanding the league to include Turkey and the Islamic Republic of Iran,” said Jumblat in his weekly article in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa newspaper.

Progressive Socialist Party Leader MP Walid Jumblat expressed relief on Monday over the local situation, saying that the country will not slip into sedition.

“The soldiers are subjected to various threats while carrying out their duty,” Jumblat said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.