Progressive Socialist Party chief MP Walid Jumblat sought on Thursday to limit any possible tension that could emerge over the killing of Sheikh Wahid al-Balous, a prominent Druze cleric in Syria.
“This is not an opportunity to challenge anyone. We respect all viewpoints,” said Jumblat at the memorial service of al-Balous held at the Druze Community House in Beirut's Verdun district.
Full StorySources close to Progressive Socialist Party chief MP Walid Jumblat have expressed conflicting views about the reopening of Lebanon's largest landfill in Naameh in an attempt to resolve the country's snowballing garbage crisis.
Some sources told al-Akhbar daily published on Thursday that guarantees made by al-Mustaqbal movement for the transfer of part of the Beirut and Mount Lebanon trash to the Srar landfill in Akkar and to the waste plant in Sidon would pave way for Jumblat to take a decision to reopen the Naameh landfill.
Full StoryProgressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat has stressed that the resignation of Environment Minister Mohammed al-Mashnouq over his failure to resolve the snowballing waste crisis is “useless.”
Jumblat told An Nahar daily published Wednesday that the authorities should start cooperating with the young protesters calling for al-Mashnouq's resignation to find an alternative for the Naameh landfill.
Full StorySpeaker Nabih Berri has set September 9 as the date for the first dialogue session that will bring together Prime Minister Tammam Salam and the heads of parliamentary blocs.
Earlier, al-Mustaqbal daily reported on Tuesday that Salam has urged Berri to bring the date of the national dialogue forward over fears of a prolonged cabinet paralysis.
Full StoryProgressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat welcomed Monday Speaker Nabih Berri's call for dialogue while stressing that the talks should explore means to activate the government's work and meet the demands of the growing protest movement.
“We welcome this dialogue, which remains the only way to achieve accord among the Lebanese and to overcome the difficult challenges that Lebanon and the region are going through,” said Jumblat in his weekly editorial in the PSP's al-Anbaa newspaper.
Full StoryLebanese leaders have welcomed Speaker Nabih Berri's initiative for dialogue to resolve the presidential crisis and other political problems that are threatening to create chaos in Lebanon.
Sources close to Prime Minister Tammam Salam told al-Joumhouria daily published on Monday that he welcomes any initiative which takes the country out of paralysis.
Full StoryProgressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat acknowledged on Sunday the “rightful” demands of the “You Stink” civil society campaign, warning against the manipulation of the movement.
He remarked via Twitter: “The activists should be cautious of attempts to politically manipulate and hinder their movement.”
Full StoryProgressive Socialist Party chief MP Walid Jumblat rejected the exclusion of Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun from political decision-making to avoid further tension.
“Aoun should not be shut out,” Jumblat told As Safir daily published on Friday. “I understand his position from the signature of the decrees and I believe that some of them should be approved after consulting him.”
Full StoryProgressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat condemned on Tuesday the bids presented to tackle waste management in Lebanon, describing as “astronomical” the prices that were submitted.
He said in a statement: “The bids are a major scandal and they should be reviewed in accordance with new rules that take into consideration the treasury.”
Full StoryThe online group calling itself "You Stink” on Monday called for a Saturday demonstration to demand the annulment of the waste management tender whose results were announced earlier in the day by the environment minister.
The movement “salutes all Lebanese who flocked to the Riad al-Solh Square over the past days to respond to the authorities' aggression,” it said in a statement recited by the activist Marwan Maalouf during a press conference.
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