Jumblat Issues Stern Warning to Lebanese Officials on Power Vacuum
Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat warned that the recent car bomb blast in Beirut's southern suburbs was a clear message that similar attacks could take place elsewhere in Lebanon and that a vacuum in the army leadership would have a “destructive” effect.
In an interview with As Safir daily published on Thursday, Jumblat said: “The situation is not comforting. The message of the car bomb in Bir al-Abed should be a message to everyone in that what happened in the southern suburbs could happen elsewhere.”
The car bomb blast in Hizbullah's stronghold on Tuesday wounded at least 53 people. It was one of the biggest in the capital's southern suburbs since the end of Lebanon's 15-year civil war in 1990, and a major breach of a tightly controlled, high security area.
“If we haven't read that message … then we are fouls and irresponsible,” Jumblat said.
The Druze leader warned that any vacuum in the army leadership post would have a “destructive” effect, advising officials to take precautions to confront the “danger” before it “destroys us.”
Jumblat has backed an invitation by Speaker Nabih Berri for a parliamentary session on July 16 to study around 45 draft-laws, including the extension of Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji's term.
Qahwaji turns 60 this September, the retirement age for military leaders.
But caretaker Premier Najib Miqati rejects attending it for claiming there is no balance between a parliament with full powers and his resigned government.
The March 14 alliance also considers the draft-laws other than Qahwaji's term extension as unnecessary. The Change and Reform bloc on the other hand rejects the extension.
“I don't think it's time to create excuses or score goals between the speakership and the premiership,” Jumblat told As Safir.
“Let's get over it ... and meet Berri halfway by agreeing on around 20 or 30 rather than 45 draft-laws on the agenda,” he said.
Asked what would happen if the session wasn't held, Jumblat said: “We are heading simply towards vacuum, which is very dangerous.”
The PSP chief reiterated that he continued to hold onto his demand for a national unity cabinet.
He criticized the March 8 and 14 alliances for putting “crippling conditions” on Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam.
Citing a series of economic problems and unemployment, Jumblat called for the swift formation of the cabinet.
“Let them give up the issue of sizes,” he said about the request of March 8 blocs to be represented in the government in accordance with their parliamentary weights.
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