Berri Stresses Jumblat still Part of Parliamentary Majority

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Speaker Nabih Berri has stressed that National Struggle Front leader Walid Jumblat was still part of the March 8 parliamentary majority despite accusations that he had joined the March 14 opposition.

In remarks to several newspapers published Wednesday, Berri said: “The March 14 team should be comforted. Walid Jumblat is still in the majority … and still one of its leaders.”

His remarks came after several parties said Jumblat, who is also the head of the Progressive Socialist Party, went back to support the March 14 coalition following a decision by his lawmakers to boycott last Monday’s legislative session along with opposition MPs.

On Tuesday, Change and Reform bloc leader Michel Aoun said that Jumblat was never part of the parliamentary majority and accused him of only seeking to ensure his own interests.

Aoun’s accusation along with criticism by other members of the March 8 forces came despite assurances by Jumblat that his bloc’s decision to boycott the session lied in its insistence on finding a political solution to a dispute on extra-budgetary spending.

“This doesn’t mean that we are no longer part of the ruling majority,” he was quoted as saying on Monday.

The March 14 forces and Jumblat’s bloc did not attend Monday’s session that was scheduled to discuss among other things a 2011 $5.9 billion spending bill referred to parliament by Premier Najib Miqati’s cabinet. The opposition has conditioned its approval of the bill to a settlement of spending made by the governments of ex-PMs Fouad Saniora and Saad Hariri between 2006 and 2010.

Berri stressed that there is nothing wrong with Jumblat having his own thoughts within the parliamentary majority. This thwarts accusations by March 14 forces that Miqati’s cabinet is ruled by Hizbullah, he said.

Berri also warned that those who want to harm his ties with Jumblat would fail.

Comments 10
Default-user-icon trueself (Guest) 07 March 2012, 12:34

Jumblat we all love you. Stay the course and the way you are. You're human and for this we all appreciate your stances and strong will. Don't also forget to be deplomatic in order to protect yourself. Lebanon needs you like no time before. Take care of yourself and don't trust anybody except your intuition. God bless you and keep you safe.

Thumb jcamerican 07 March 2012, 13:36

As long there are people like trueself worshiping their leaders, it gives you an idea about the future of Lebanon.

Default-user-icon MUSTAPHA O. GHALAYINI (Guest) 07 March 2012, 15:29

the couragous walid beik,it is very rare to notice any courage in our politicians,he is confronting a criminal regime with filthy mafia ramifications in lebanon
god protect bilad el arz gladiators.
lebanon will prevail no doubt about it.

Missing usjabaley 07 March 2012, 15:47

Jumblat by being in this goverment is helping march 14 more than if he is out, Smart man , Bless you ya baik.

Thumb bigsami 07 March 2012, 15:54

Jumblat has always sided and belonged w/ March 14 team but came a time/point that the Syrian regime through HA threatened his mere existence (family & all). Now that Assad's days are numbered...he is feeling less pressure & slowly but surely heading back to the right side.

Thumb sophia_angle 07 March 2012, 16:51

Through decades till present day, Lebanon was divided into sects each one governed either by force or money (all war Lords). All annulated the government’s role by imposing each party their will on their people.

These parties during years, through money n power, each one developed a castle & fought each other until each one got their share size.

During that time every individual; if he wants something, he refers to his leader not because he loves him but because he can give him what he wants, especially that there is no longer a government.

Now when a government begun to rise, their first reaction is to protect their interests. We will see soon that all war Lords being united against the government so no one will be questioned on how they made all their fortune.

There is an arabic saying: "kiloun defnino sawa"

Default-user-icon MUSTAPHA O. GHALAYINI (Guest) 07 March 2012, 18:36

u dont like that walid beik is the most couragous leader in lebanon????

Default-user-icon MUSTAPHA O. GHALAYINI (Guest) 07 March 2012, 18:38

sorry to doubt u walid beik: u are the smartest master of the game.

Default-user-icon The Truth (Guest) 07 March 2012, 22:22

@jcamerican: Rather worship a flip flopper than a murdering dictator like you and co.

Thumb arzz 08 March 2012, 08:23

Mr. JUMP-A-LOT should quit politics