Jumblat Considers Political Situation 'Unsound,' Calls for Dialogue

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat described on Saturday the current political situation as “unsound,” stressing that the only way to resolve disputes is by dialogue.

Sources close to Jumblat expressed the Druze leader's annoyance that a certain party decided to boycott the recent parliamentary session that Speaker Nabih Berri called for, in comments published in As Safir newspaper.

The legislature was set to meet last Monday for three days but the March 14 alliance, the Change and Reform bloc and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati boycotted it, which forced Berri to postpone it to July 16.

Concerning Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam's cabinet formation process, Jumblat delegated caretaker Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour to meet with President Michel Suleiman on Thursday night to discuss the formation of the government,

The deadlock in the cabinet formation came against the backdrop of a dispute between Speaker Nabih Berri and Miqati, who has refused to attend a parliamentary session amid a resigned government.

Berri postponed the three-day session to July 16 after March 14 and Miqati claimed that the speaker cannot ask parliament to convene to discuss not important issues amid a resigned cabinet.

Jumblat also delegated caretaker Transportation and Public Works Minister Ghazi al-Aridi to meet with Berri, who in turn said that “nothing is looming in the horizon” concerning the formation of the government.

The PSP leader hailed in comments published in As Safir Saudi Ambassador Ali Awadh Asiri's exerted efforts to gap the bridge between the Lebanese foes.

Jumblat considered that a meeting between Asiri and Aoun was “positive,” and indicates the “Saudi kingdom's keenness to maintain stability in Lebanon.”

On Tuesday, Asiri held talks with Aoun in Rabieh, which was seen as an attempt to amend ties between the kingdom and the FPM leader.