Naharnet

Report: Hopes that Hariri-Jumblat Meeting 'Will Still Happen'

A meeting between Prime Minister Saad Hariri and leader of the Progressive Socialist Party MP Walid Jumblat did not take place on Sunday as anticipated, amid hopes that the meeting will still happen, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday.

Sources from the Center House (of Hariri) and the PSP, told the daily that contacts were made to arrange for the meeting between Mustaqbal Movement leader, Hariri, and Jumblat but “efforts did not lead to the desired ends until late at night.”

On the other hand, well-informed sources said the endeavors “will not stop at this point,” assuring that “contacts are ongoing despite the reasons which may have delayed the meeting between the two men."

They attributed the reasons to Jumblat’s position as for the nomination of Elie Ferzli as deputy speaker.

Jumblat said Sunday during his meeting with Speaker Nabih Berri that he will instruct his bloc's MPs to vote for veteran politician Elie Ferzli for the deputy speaker post.

However, Hariri and some PSP deputies reject the notion and consider Ferzli a “friend of the Syrian regime” in Lebanon, said the daily.

Jumblat also told the Speaker that the PSP's MPs will vote for Berri in a parliamentary session widely expected to see the Speaker re-elected for a sixth term as head of parliament, a post he has occupied since 1992.

Ferzli, who is now close to President Michel Aoun, had served as deputy speaker in the past.

Source: Naharnet


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