Jumblat Calls on Hariri to Return 'Immediately' to Head All-Embracing Cabinet
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat urged al-Mustaqbal movement chief Saad Hariri to return to Lebanon soon as “there are no excuses that could justify his absence.”
“I call on Hariri to return and head an all-embracing cabinet (after the election of a new president) to avert further tension and crises,” Jumblat said in an interview with As Safir newspaper.
The Druze leader stressed that latest discussions among the political arch-foes don't indicate that Wednesday's parliamentary session will lack the required quorum, prompting Speaker Nabih Berri to postpone it.
Lawmakers must pick a replacement for President Michel Suleiman before his term expires at midnight May 24. He leaves Baabda Palace the next day.
“Nothing signals that the needed two thirds (of the 128 lawmakers) quorum would be met during next weeks' legislative sessions set to elect a new president, especially due to the lack of consensus over a candidate,” Jumblat noted.
He noted that he will exert efforts to reach common ground among the rival parties over the name of the new head of state.
Jumblat said that he is holding on to his candidate for the presidency MP Henri Helou.
“It's in the country's best interest to elect a president ahead of the end of President Michel Suleiman's tenure on May 25 to avoid any vacuum,” he told As Safir daily.
Jumblat said that he will agree on any candidate capable of “managing the crisis in the Lebanon, ending tension and could contribute to rapprochement between the various components of the Lebanese and political camps.”
On Wednesday, MPs failed to elect a president after no candidate secured the two-thirds of the votes needed to win and many lawmakers cast blank ballots and then left the parliament hall, leading to a lack of quorum.
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, who was backed by the March 14 alliance, received the votes of only 48 MPs.
Sixteen lawmakers voted for Aley MP Henri Helou, one for Kataeb party chief ex-President Amin Gemayel and 52 MPs, mainly March 8 alliance members, cast blank ballots.
During the second round next Wednesday, the winning candidate will need a simple majority of 65 votes.
-H.K.
-D.A.
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