TAYMOUR JUMBLATT: RESOLVING THE PRESIDENTIAL DOSSIER REQUIRES RAISING POLITICAL, NATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY LEVELS, BYPASSING OBSTRUCTION METHODS

Progressive Socialist Party Head, MP Taymour Jumblatt, chaired a meeting of the party's leadership councils, commissioners, interior representatives and party-supporting institutions, held today at Al-Mukhtara Palace to discuss the general situation in light of developments related to the continued Israeli aggression against Gaza and its threats to expand the scope of its ongoing military attacks on Lebanon. Jumblatt touched on the prevailing situation, which he described as 'very delicate and sensitive,' referring to the escalating risks as long as a settlement is not reached to stop the war after nine months of brutal Israeli aggression against the steadfast Palestinian people and the ongoing attacks on Lebanon and the southern regions in particular. While reiterating his party's historical and principled position in support of the Palestine cause and in confronting the Israeli occupation, Jumblatt underlined the need for a complete ceasefire and full respect for the rights of the Palestinians, and emphas ized at the Lebanese level respect for UN Resolution 1701 and the restoration of the Armistice Agreement and support for the role played by UNIFIL in reducing border escalation. Regarding the presidential elections dossier, the MP stressed that 'the Democratic Gathering Bloc and the Progressive Socialist Party will continue the communication movement with all political parties in an effort to reach common denominators and a formula acceptable to all that will lead to the election of a President of the Republic, to be the gateway to regularizing the work of institutions and structuring the state...' He affirmed the need to agree on a realistic approach to the economic, social and financial crises, re-activate the Lebanese economic wheel, place the country on the right track for progress, and ensure the return of depositors' lost rights. In this context, Jumblatt believed that resolving the presidential issue, which is burdened with various conditions and contradictions, requires raising political and nationa l responsibility to higher standards, as necessitated by the risks surrounding the nation, which calls for abandoning obstruction and joining efforts in the direction of saving Lebanon. Source: National News Agency - Lebanon