Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt said on Friday that the report in Al-Akhbar newspaper where he was quoted as saying that Hezbollah “does not want to form a new cabinet,” and that Hezbollah is using Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun as a façade to delay cabinet formation, is accurate.
“The headline used Al-Akhbar could have created a misunderstanding,” Jumblatt said according to the PSP’s website.
“ My statement was out of concern for the Resistance and its achievements, Lebanese economy and internal stability, particularly that the delay in cabinet formation has been ongoing for more than four months now .” He said
The statement made does not aim to cause debates, Jumblatt also said, adding that his statement aimed to reaffirm that it is unacceptable that there is no government.
“Yesterday’s incident between resigned Telecommunications Minister Charbel Nahhas and the security forces is an example of what may happen if paralysis and stalling continue.”
Jumblatt also voiced the importance of forming a cabinet capable of confronting political, economic and social challenges especially amid “the critical moment” Lebanon and the Arab region is going through.
“It is weird how some parties in the new majority insist to drive the majority toward failure. Yesterday’ incident between Nahhas and security forces proves some people’s failure as care-taker ministers .” Jumblatt said
Jumblatt , who was elected by March 14 voters during the 2009 elections officially defected to the Iranian and Syrian backed Hezbollah led alliance last January, making them the new majority.
Hezbollah brought down PM Saad Hariri’s government on January 12 over the Special Tribunal for Lebanon’s (STL) imminent indictment which is widely expected to implicate Hezbollah members in the assassination of former PM Rafik Hariri in 2005.
Lebanon has been run by a caretaker government since last January. Nagib Mikati was appointed in January as the PM designate with the backing of the Hezbollah led-March 8 alliance, MPs Jumblatt and Mohammad Safadi . March 14 leaders have repeatedly said that intimidation from Hezbollah’s weapons helped secure the parliamentary majority for Mikati’s nomination.
A dispute over the Interior Ministry portfolio between President Michel Suleiman and MP Michel Aoun was blamed for the delay in the formation of a new cabinet headed by Mikati.
According to analysts Hezbollah is hiding behind Aoun’s demands for the ministries of Interior , Communications and justice in order to have full control of Lebanon’s security when STL indictments are issued and made public . Now Lebanon
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