Jumblat Says Political Extortion Should Stop
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Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat expressed fear that the political disputes between the cabinet members might occur at every crossroads, especially with the imminent discussions of the administrative appointments.
He told As Safir newspaper on Monday that his position on the electricity project was merely technical and administrative, and not political.
He said that priority goes to the cabinet’s work, stressing: “It should focus its attention to all sectors, whether on the appointments issue or anything related to the economy, (people’s) livelihood, salaries and taxes policy.”
Jumblat noted: “Prime Minister Najib Miqati is running the cabinet properly; however, the most important thing is that the blackmailing policy stop as some parties in the cabinet have become weary of the extortion practiced by others.”
Asked about proportional representation in the electoral law, the MP responded that he opposes it not because he will lose the elections if it were adopted, but because he doesn’t understand it.
“I have tried to study it… I found it very hard to understand,” the PSP leader stated.
Concerning the dispute between Speaker Nabih Berri and the Mustaqbal movement, he commented: “I’ve read about it in the newspapers and I don’t want to get involved, but if I were Berri, I wouldn’t have responded.”
Jumblat said that Lebanon should remain committed to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon probing the assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri.
“We shouldn’t venture and cut off our obligations with the tribunal or prevent funding it, as the country will have to bear any sanctions imposed on it (as a result of this decision),” the newspaper quoted him as saying.
He urged the cabinet to fund the tribunal, saying: “Hizbullah can defend itself with all the possible ways… The issue will not end today or tomorrow it might take many years.”
On the developments in Syria, the PSP leader said that the Syrian regime has to implement reforms to face the popular uprising, noting that the situation in Syria is complicated.
The Syrian leadership should adopt the Arab League initiative, “I have read it and it includes good points,” he added.
12 September 2011, 14:40
03
Political extorsion is not new to you Mr Joumblatt. it is what brought to change sides in the first place!
12 September 2011, 15:22
01
This poor Lebanon, a country that is governed by crooks and their accessories. Jumblat was once and is still maybe extorting positions and money for his party and religious sect at the expense of all the lebanese like all others who did the same. I remember well during the end of Amin Jumayel's term as president, he was giving the Lebanese nationality to Muslims in return for $25k each. I remember many of those that I knew who came and told me about it. While now he's talking about protecting the Christians: what a bunch of talk for consumptions by the stupid and the poor minded. Now, it's Aoun turn which I would say is the normal way things in lebanon are done. Like all others he should eat big so that he could sit in his vila preaching defense of the Chistians. I say this because I had many friends of mine who died in their early twenties after going to war to defend the Christians as they told them while the Christian leadrs had their kids away from the war in france studying
12 September 2011, 17:57
10
yes and than he returned where he belongs. not even all the threats from cia couldn't keep him with that march 14 scum
12 September 2011, 18:01
10
The old mafia ways of cut backs and pay offs are no longer acceptable. Proportional representation is only complicated to those who will lose seats that were usually allocated to vote buying!
This government and all future ones should fall if the old corrupt mafia style system is allowed to continue. The Murr family is already out, and any other mafia family type organisations like psp or berri's amal need to adopt or fail.
12 September 2011, 18:46
10
Blackmail is when you threaten to expose someone if they don't do what you want. If blackmail is being used, it means that those being blackmailed should be removed. By definition they have done something wrong and wrong enough to threaten them. If you want blackmail to stop, stop doing things you’re not supposed to do in the first place.
12 September 2011, 19:57
01
No worries when the blackmailer is an impotent coward. Miqati banged his fist iMBassil folded and ran under the table, his pappy wasn't around to run and hide himself.
