Hariri, Jumblat Stress 'Joint Action' to Hold Presidential Vote during Paris Talks

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat stressed during their Paris meeting on the “necessity to strengthen joint action” to secure holding the pending constitutional junctures, a statement released by the PSP revealed on Saturday.

The leaders highlighted the importance of holding these junctures, on top of them the presidential elections “to avoid extending vacuum (in the presidency) and to preserve the institutional work in this critical phase,” the statement detailed.

Former President Michel Suleiman left office on May 25 without a successor to lead the state in the coming six years, as differences between the March 14 and the March 8 alliances prevented the election of a new president.

Hariri and Jumblat also discussed the latest developments in Lebanon and the region.

The long-awaited meeting was held on Friday evening in the French capital, in the presence of Health Minister and PSP MP Wael Abou Faour and Hariri's Chief of Staff Nader Hariri, a statement released by the former PM's office said.

Jumblat had delegated Abou Faour to the Moroccan city of Casablanca earlier this month to prepare for the talks with Hariri.

The PSP leader has repeatedly stressed that he will not endorse Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun or Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea for office.

He also rejected withdrawing the nomination of Democratic Gathering MP Henri Helou “in favor of the Central Bank chief or Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji.”

The Druze leader had met with Suleiman over the presidential deadlock upon his arrival to the French capital on Wednesday.

S.D.B.