Jumblat Confirms Allegiance to Hariri, Calls for New March 14 “Outlook”
Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat confirmed his allegiance to Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri, yet he called for a new outlook in the majority March 14 coalition.
"To ease interpretation, I have said that the March 14 alliance cannot carry on this way," Jumblat said in interviews with several newspapers published Thursday.
"This does not mean quitting (March 14), but rather find a new outlook," he clarified.
"I did not abandon the Premier-designate (Hariri) and I will not dump him in honor of Rafik Hariri and my friendship to Saad Hariri and his enormous efforts with President Michel Suleiman to achieve a consensus government," Jumblat stressed.
Pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat quoted March 14 circles as saying that Jumblat”s clarification was "adequate."
They believed Jumblat”s call for a new March 14 outlook is "subject to discussion."
He reiterated his keenness to maintain his "privacy and distinction."
"The Druze mountains and the PSP have some kind of privacy," Jumblat explained. "My allies should respect my privacy."
Jumblat denied he was obstructing formation of a Cabinet lineup, stressing the need to deal with the repercussions of the May 7 events.