Jumblat Says Nominated Salam after Rejecting Rifi: I Will Not Accept One-Sided Govt.
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat announced on Thursday his support for nominating Beirut MP Tammam Salam for premiership, stating that he will not take part in any one-sided government.
"I have picked Mr. Tammam Salam and I have contacted him,” Jumblat said in an interview on LBCI television.
He added: "He is the son of a historic, moderate family and I hope he will be positively received by everyone”.
Jumblat remarked: “I don't want to say that (al-Mustaqbal Movement head MP) Saad Hariri was dismayed when I proposed Salam, but his response was tepid, and when I contacted Hizbullah, they had the same response”.
He elaborated that he was asked by Hizbullah whether he had another candidate: “I said no, because he hails from a moderate family and he has never said a single bad word against the Resistance”.
“I'm still a centrist and when I allowed myself to name Tammam Salam, I named the historically centrist political dynasty,” Jumblat stated.
“There is an MP who maybe liked my centrist position and he might be among our ranks during consultations tomorrow and I'm not talking about (Democratic Party leader MP) Prince Talal (Arslan)”.
He revealed Hariri's pick for premiership, however, was former Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi.
"I told Hariri that Rifi is a confrontational candidate”.
MP Salam is most likely to become the head of the next cabinet, after the March 14 forces announced earlier on Thursday that they have chosen him as their nominee for premiership.
"The lawmakers of the alliance and of Jamaa Islamiya will officially inform President Michel Suleiman about their candidate during Friday's parliamentary consultations,” said al-Mustaqbal bloc head MP Fouad Saniora after a March 14 broad meeting at the Center House which was exclusively dedicated to discussing this issue.
Salam, who later joined the meeting after arriving from a trip to Riyadh where he met with ex-PM Hariri and several Saudi figures, thanked the convened figures for their nomination, hoping that this would "reflect in the best interest of Lebanon".
Several media reports have said that he will be named the head of a new government, especially in light of his visit to the KSA.
MTV reported that Hizbullah is likely to nominate Salam to the premiership “because he is a consensual and non-provocative figure".
The Development and Liberation bloc is also expected to endorse his candidacy, it added.
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun is expected to reveal his stance on this matter on Friday after the Change and Reform bloc's meeting, LBCI television said.
Binding parliamentary consultations to name a new premier are scheduled to be held on Friday and Saturday with President Suleiman at the Baabda Palace.
Jumblat pointed out that he will not endorse or participate in any one-sided cabinet.
"I will only grant my vote of confidence to a government formed by all parties,” he confirmed.
He explained: “Since there is no international sponsor and since we can't await the outcome of the Syrian crisis, is it so hard to form a national unity cabinet? This cabinet would start its work with addressing the issues of Khandaq al-Ghamiq, al-Asir and Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tabbaneh”.
The PSP leader called for managing differences inside the cabinet until the end of the Syrian crisis.
Regarding the ministerial Policy Statement, Jumblat said it is to be decided by the ministers participating in the national unity cabinet.
Jumblat warned against any move against Hizbullah's weapons: “My words were clear during my meeting with Prince Bandar that whatever the outcome of the Syrian revolution might be, let no one think of any negative move against Hizbullah”.
“I will not accept to condemn the party and I don't approve of (U.S. President Barack) Obama's description,” he stressed.
“In the heart of Saudi Arabia, I said we want dialogue with Hizbullah in Lebanon and I call on Hariri to engage in dialogue, organize the differences and implement the self-dissociation policy, which is the best slogan, and I hope Salam will follow suit as we await the grand settlement”.
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04 April 2013, 22:16
Jumblat: There is a law that is in force, that's why I submitted my candidacy request together with the National Struggle Front and out of respect for President Suleiman.
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04 April 2013, 22:09
Jumblat: In the heart of Saudi Arabia, I said we want dialogue with Hizbullah in Lebanon and I call on Hariri to engage in dialogue, organize the differences and implement the self-dissociation policy, which is the best slogan, and I hope Salam will follow suit as we await the grand settlement.
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04 April 2013, 22:06
Jumblat: Hizbullah is part of an Iranian political system and unfortunately its heroic jihadist fighters have drowned in the Syrian quagmire and the question is how can we benefit from the Resistance's arms.
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04 April 2013, 22:05
Jumblat: I'm still a centrist and when I allowed myself to name Tammam Salam, I named the historically centrist political dynasty. The ministerial Policy Statement is to be decided by the members of a national unity cabinet, not me.
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04 April 2013, 22:03
Jumblat: I call for managing our differences inside the cabinet until the end of the Syrian crisis.
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04 April 2013, 22:01
Jumblat: My words were clear during my meeting with Prince Bandar that whatever the outcome of the Syrian revolution might be, let no one think of any negative move against Hizbullah. It is inevitable to engage in dialogue with Hizbullah and I will not accept to condemn it and I don't approve of Obama's description.
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04 April 2013, 21:59
Jumblat: Since there is no international sponsor and since we can't await the outcome of the Syrian crisis, is it so hard to form a national unity cabinet? This cabinet would start its work with addressing the issues of Khandaq al-Ghamiq, al-Asir and Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tabbaneh.
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04 April 2013, 21:58
Jumblat: The Druze of the Golan, who are known for their patriotism, can stand in the face of Druze mercenaries who are with the regime.
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04 April 2013, 21:56
Jumblat: There are Druze who are with the regime and Druze who are against the regime, but let my words be clear: letting the blood of those who are with the regime is permissible.
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04 April 2013, 21:55
Jumblat: I salute Moaz al-Khatib and reject the Western stance that is refusing to arm the Syrian resistance.
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04 April 2013, 21:55
Jumblat: For the first time after the Doha Agreement, which was toppled in 2011, Lebanon has been left alone. There is an Arab-Iranian conflict, but there is also one of the most vicious games in the world, which is negotiations over Syria's corpse, and the latest trick generated by the Iranian-American malice was the proposal to suspend (uranium) enrichment in return for softening sanctions.
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04 April 2013, 21:52
Jumblat: There is an MP who maybe liked my centrist position and he might be among our ranks during consultations tomorrow and I'm not talking about Prince Talal (Arslan).
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04 April 2013, 21:46
Jumblat: I told Hariri that Rifi is a confrontational candidate.
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04 April 2013, 21:44
Jumblat: Hizbullah asked me whether I had another candidate and I said no, because he hails from a moderate family and he has never said a single bad word against the Resistance.
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04 April 2013, 21:43
Jumblat: I don't want to say that Hariri was dismayed when I proposed Salam, but his response was tepid, and when I contacted Hizbullah, they had the same response.
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04 April 2013, 21:43
Jumblat: I have picked Mr. Tammam Salam and I have contacted him. He is the son of a historic, moderate family and I hope he will be positively received by everyone.
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04 April 2013, 21:42
Jumblat: I will not join or grant my vote of confidence to any one-sided government. I will only grant my vote of confidence to a government formed by all parties.
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04 April 2013, 21:40
Jumblat: Miqati resigned and that was a door for Saudi Arabia to return to embracing Lebanon. We believed that the resignation can lead to a new page between him and the kingdom.
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04 April 2013, 21:39
Jumblat: Until the moment, the 1960 law is still in force and when common ground is reached over a hybrid law, the parliament will convene.
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04 April 2013, 21:38
Jumblat: I will not accept and I will not vote for a one-sided government. We want a national unity government.
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04 April 2013, 21:38
Jumblat: During Wael Abu Faour's second visit to Saudi Arabia, we rejected several names that were proposed, including Ashraf Rifi. Yesterday, during a phone call between me and Hariri, he insisted on Ashraf Rifi but I rejected the name. I rejected the nominee despite all of his competence and even Wael rejected Rifi during his talks with Prince Bandar because we want a consensual candidate.
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04 April 2013, 21:36
Jumblat: During my meeting with Prince Bandar, I defended PM Miqati's achievements and I did not meet Sheikh Saad in Saudi Arabia.
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04 April 2013, 21:35
Jumblat: I did not abandon Miqati and we are in constant communication through the common friend Nicolas Nahhas.
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04 April 2013, 21:35
Jumblat: We walked together and we took part in the resignation together and I understood his stance. I tried to delay his resignation, but I couldn't because he is a man who has dignity and he did an excellent job.
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04 April 2013, 21:34
Jumblat: Miqati tried to steer the ship amid accusations from March 8 and March 14, and he tried to walk through the landmines of the international community but he received impossible requests.
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04 April 2013, 21:33
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat in an interview on LBCI: I did not abandon Miqati at all, but he decided to say enough is enough, although he insisted on financing the STL and went beyond the S-S agreement and was accused of treason. He was fed up with the pressures and asked the political authority to shoulder its responsibilities.
04 April 2013, 22:41
79
"letting the blood of those who are with the regime is permissible"
indeed very moderate ya beik,
04 April 2013, 23:37
115
Hey bigjohn the Druze in Syria can stick the regime where the sun don't shine .
04 April 2013, 23:00
20
Ni7na rjelak ya Bou Taymour....All the politicians know he runs Lebanon with his politics, without his blessing nothing can be accomplished.
04 April 2013, 23:02
37
What annoyed me the most, if true, is that M14 and Harir seriously considered Rifi for PM! It is no secret that I lean towards M14 on most issues but this is certainly not one of them. What the heck was Hariri smoking to propose Rifi? Yes, he made a great security chief and IMHO he should have been kept at the helm of the data section but come on Mr. Hariri and Co. are you suicidal or something?
Yes, we do not like HA and would soon have them disappear from the face of the earth but please what would confrontation such as naming Rifi accomplish besides more angst, distrust and conflict. So disappointing if true.
05 April 2013, 01:22
32
@ anonymetexasusa
It could be a tactic as you say. At this stage of the game and with the country going through the hard times it is going through and given that M8 has proved a failure in governing what makes more sense is staying above the fray and being magnanimous. Tactics like this at times like these are a waste of time at best and can rub people the wrong way to say the least. Leaders should know better than to employ cheap and confrontational tactics.
04 April 2013, 23:12
66
It is a shame that jumblat stands like a faiseur de Prince while every one knows how corrupt he has been.
05 April 2013, 08:36
11
Shut up BS thrower. You ignoramus. Anytime Aouns name is mentioned you jump to his defence like one of the HA henchmen. Get a life.
04 April 2013, 23:24
34
I have mixed feelings about this. First who are you jumby to "nominate" prime ministers.
Secondly, it is good that you found a consensual candidate. good work
Third, Rifi? for crying out loud, are you crazy? even as a negotiating tactic! like lebnanfirst said, rifi is a good security chief. and that is it. I dont want him to run my country! Hariri is getting out of touch from reality!
05 April 2013, 00:40
72
lol.. im actually a president in my company in USA today im traveling to london for a meeting i was sitting at the airport having a glass of wine and reading your comments you just made me laugh my friend as how stupid and sick you are i feel really sorry for you .. what an imagination jail rape hhahhahha
05 April 2013, 08:45
12
The pot calling the kettle black. You re a closet queer whose allegiance to the FPM is both blind and a full time job.
It's been a pathetic show watching your posts degenerate further and further into polemics and moronic back and forths.
I think you ll remember FT that I respected your views even if I didn't agree at one point, that is until I saw that you don't have opinions just allegiances.
05 April 2013, 09:03
03
FaridZ. If you were indeed a company president in the US, you would be way more articulate, you would be certainly more modest and less presumptuous. You probably are running a 7-11 store and are proud of it after a long career to climb up to that post.
05 April 2013, 01:06
13
walid beik, u were and still is, the MASTER OF THE GAME,when this patriot is against my lebanon i'll be the first to jump against him,jumping to remain the MASTER is an art he performs admirably well.i congratulate lebanon to have walid beik even if he is a "secterian zaim".
05 April 2013, 08:41
13
To prevent alienation or to promote illegal agents of Iran? Completely illogical FT.
05 April 2013, 12:00
40
naharnet always deletes posts that say things like they are! great journalism ethics, too objective to be true! ya 3yeb el chom 3al freedom of speech!
05 April 2013, 20:45
00
Go again mate???? who did he kill.. who did attack the jabal and started raping women and killing kids. what are you talking about
05 April 2013, 20:57
00
nescafe.. you got all you history wrong man.. I don't know where did you get that criminal thing about walid jumblatt.. ? the criminal are known.. well known. it people like you that keeps are country down. people that think like you.
06 April 2013, 03:16
00
Impressive Mr Jumblatt speaks wisely and clearly this time. He has learned from his previous daliance with my country to not trust Obama or any other American. Harari's prefered choice was the most ridiculous name he could have suggested. I would have been amazed but not surprised if Rifi would have accepted.
