Jumblat Says Lebanese Decision 'Usurped' by Hizbullah, 'New System' Needed
Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat has decried that “today, more than ever, we are living in another Lebanon.”
“The Lebanese decision has been completely usurped by a party that extends from here to the Islamic Republic” of Iran, Jumblat said in an interview with the PSP’s al-Anbaa news portal, referring to Hizbullah.
“At the same time, there is the enormous economic crisis, which is the result of bad behavior, or the exacerbation of the class of bankers and traders and those in the political class who are benefitting from the discrepancy in the exchange rate,” Jumblat added.
He accordingly called for “a new political system that emerges from a new electoral system.”
“The current system is a system of splitting shares between the Shiite duo and the Christian duo, and the biggest loser in this system was al-Mustaqbal Movement chief Saad Hariri as well as us as a minority party and the general and national parties that call for abolishing political sectarianism,” Jumblat explained.
He, however, said that it is not possible to build a new electoral system under the current political equation.
As for the controversy over the port blast investigations, the PSP leader said recusing Judge Tarek Bitar from interrogating former ministers is “not the appropriate solution,” seeing as it would fragment the investigation.
He added that Bitar “should have questioned the judge who ordered the confiscation of the ship and the unloading of its cargo, seeing as the ship was full of ammonium nitrate.”
Separately, Jumblat said “regaining Lebanon from the Iranian axis requires international circumstances that would allow the country to be present.”
As for the upcoming presidential election and the possibility of extending the term of President Michel Aoun, the PSP leader said: “Constitutionally, President Michel Aoun cannot have his term extended. This matter contradicts with the constitution and he must hand over his post when the final moment comes.”