PSP Insists Differences with FPM are Technical as Jumblat Doesn’t Back Off
A solution to the electricity crisis could come through calm dialogue among the bickering parties, sources close to Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat said insisting that the differences with the Free Patriotic Movement were not political.
The sources told several Beirut newspapers published Thursday that the timeframe ahead of the Sept. 7 cabinet session could pave way for a deal on the electricity bill to allocate $1.2 billion dollars to Energy Minister Jebran Bassil to generate 700 megawatts of electricity.
They said that President Michel Suleiman, PM Najib Miqati and Speaker Nabih Berri agree with PSP chief Walid Jumblat’s insistence for the formation of a technical committee to allocate the funds along with Bassil.
Jumblat will not back off from his demand, the sources said despite insistence by FPM ministers to give Bassil the sole authority to allocate the funds.
The sources stressed that the differences between the FPM and the PSP were only technical. Minister Alaeddine Terro, who is loyal to Jumblat, also said there was no political dispute with Aoun and his ministers.
The consultations held during the cabinet session at Baabda on Wednesday, were aimed at solving the electricity crisis and not stirring a political dispute with any party inside or outside the government, Terro told VDL (100.5).
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