Jumblat Rejects Any Blackmail ‘Even if it Destabilizes the Alliance’
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat said on Wednesday that his ministers are expecting further explanations to elude any doubts they have on the electricity draft law.
The draft law proposed by MP Michel Aoun and backed by his son-in-law Energy Minister Jebran Bassil calls for earmarking $1.2 billion to the minister to build plants that would produce 700 Megawatts of electricity.
“It’s unacceptable to specify $1.2 billion to fund the first part of the electricity plan without an explicit mechanism,” Jumblat told As Safir newspaper.
He said that there are two options for the PSP ministers, either the cabinet agrees through consensus on the electricity draft law and on a clear plan to be adopted, or they hold onto their reservations.
Jumblat considered the Energy Minister didn’t present the necessary and convincing explanations on a lot of the administrative and technical questions regarding his proposal.
“We will not be threatened and blackmailed,” he stressed in an indirect response to Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun who has warned that he will withdraw his ministers if the cabinet didn’t adopt the electricity draft law.
“We don’t care if we (PSP bloc) present minorities in the cabinet, and I don’t care if my stance will destabilize the existing political alliance,” Jumblat said.
The cabinet held a meeting on Wednesday at the Baabda palace to discuss the electricity plan after it was postponed during Tuesday's session.
24 August 2011, 11:17
06
Where does Bassil expect to find the 5Billion for the project anyway?
24 August 2011, 12:21
03
Don't worry Walid Bey, you can't be blackmailed because this implies a pre-requisite: knowing which side you're with! And with the continuous rotation of your stances and alliances, balckmailing you is an almost "Mission Impossible". So relax and prepare your next U-turn...
24 August 2011, 12:44
05
The First & most important step in Mr. CLOUN's proposal to solve Lebanon's Electricity problem is to make his "Snuggle Buddies" Hizbustan PAY for the Electricity they have been STEALING for Decades.
24 August 2011, 13:39
04
Congratulation Walid what a brave individual you are.Could this electricity saga be a pretext for your next dishonorable move?I wish you took the same stance when the corrupt syrian regime and their despicable partners applied presure on you to disgracefully walk away from march 14.In my opinion you were a disgrace to the brave Druze and the Lebanese in general.However good to see you have form when you are under presure,thankfully you are very predictable.I smell a rat here, i suspect walid and his honorable grouping are scheming something here, only time would tell.Please note no disrespect intended to the brave Druze of Lebanon,just disappointed with Walid disregard for the people that had faith in him.
24 August 2011, 14:57
02
electricity, or lack of, is a serious issue in the country.The most serious, and unfortunately successive governments since the end of the civil war have failed to solve that specific vital issue.
The new government has a plan that guarantees 24/24 power for all of the country? cost is how much? we need power 24/24 at any cost, this is not a luxury rather of vital importance. The 1.000.000.000 question remains, where does the money come from? seriously, the government is broke, and stretched with debt of close to 200% of GDP. where does the money come from? No one seems to be talking about this aspect of the problem.
24 August 2011, 15:08
00
We know what he said. Please try to read what he did not say, many atimes what is not said is more important that the apparent words. I have no political stand or favoritisme, I am here as a study, I am a politico-psychological analyst by trade. That said; This current message translates into: it is done, it is over, turn the page and move on...
24 August 2011, 17:09
40
and the zionist mouthpiece still defecates on an nahar comments section...that very old!!!!
at least this goverment has economic subject on the agenda....unlike 2 previous ones
24 August 2011, 17:54
03
Yaaa... habal!
Who are the gangsters who have been refraining this country to take steps ahead...??
Who declares wars unilaterally??
Who blocks the Central District for a year?
Who burned tires and blocked roads? (yes ahbal idiots in the North did it one too)
On who's side was Emile Lahoud and his gang?
Who stopped the previous EDL project in 2006?
Who was the electrical resources Minister in 2006?
Who blocked the Internet broadband project (well...ask Emile Emile , Nahas, and Bassil about that...)?
Omar Karami...this one rings a bell?
Who used his blocking minority during all those years?
ok, ok ahbal...bark again "zionist" this "zionist" that, your IQ obviously doesn't allow you to say much more...
Whatever ahbal...keep singing your tune...
24 August 2011, 23:52
02
If being a Lebanese is defined as a Zionist, well who cares? Just words
