Jumblat Shies Away from Revealing Alliances in Upcoming Polls

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat on Wednesday avoided revealing his alliances in the upcoming parliamentary elections, saying the polls were just a “transitional stage.”

In remarks to As Safir daily, Jumblat described his meeting with al-Mustaqbal movement chief and ex-PM Saad Hariri in Paris on Tuesday as “friendly, honest and important.”

“We agreed on some ideas but there are other issues that require more discussions,” he said.

Jumblat said that he had a unified stance with Hariri on the rejection of the adoption of the so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal for harming Lebanon's National Pact.

The proposal, which has been backed by the four major Christian parties, calls for a single district and allows each sect to vote for its own MPs under a proportional representation system.

Asked whether his National Struggle Front will seek an alliance with al-Mustaqbal bloc in the elections, Jumblat said the issue would be discussed when the time is ripe.

“The most important thing today is internal dialogue. The elections are just a passing phase,” he stressed.

Hariri's press office said on Tuesday that the two leaders “discussed the regional situation in all its aspects and the challenges Lebanon is facing.”

Jumblat and Hariri “stressed the need to preserve the Taef constitution and religious coexistence in Lebanon which provide protection for national unity and stability in the face of these challenges.”