Suleiman Holds Talks with Jumblat in Mukhtara

President Michel Suleiman on Sunday visited Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat at the Mukhtara palace, following talks on Saturday between the two men at the Beiteddine Palace.

Talks in Mukhtara tackled the latest political developments in Lebanon and the region, state-run National News Agency reported.

Jumblat threw a dinner banquet in honor of the president, which was attended by Jumblat’s wife Nora and ministers Ghazi Aridi, Alaeddine Terro and Wael Abu Faour, in addition to PSP’s secretary Sharif Fayyad.

Saturday’s talks in Beiteddine tackled the governmental situation, reported the daily An Nahar on Sunday.

The president’s circles added that the talks also addressed ways to resume the national dialogue among the Lebanese political powers.

The daily added that Jumblat’s visit was “a courtesy visit,” revealing that he had invited the president to attend a family dinner later on Sunday.

Asked about the electricity file, the MP responded: “Ask the ministers about it. I don’t know anything about it and I am not following up on it.”

“The ministers can answer questions about it,” he added.

A dispute has erupted between Jumblat and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun over the electricity draft law that was proposed by the latter.

The law allows Energy and Water Minister Jebran Bassil to receive $1.2 billion to implement a project on producing 700 Megawatts of electricity.

The March 14-led opposition says that the draft law gives the minister the freedom to use the amount of money without referring to the cabinet or without any monitoring by the Audit Bureau.

The opposition and Jumblat’s National Struggle Front MPs opposed the law when it was put to a vote at parliament a few weeks ago.