Jumblat Hails Postponement of Parliamentary Session

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat described on Friday a decision to postpone parliamentary sessions as “excellent.”

“All efforts should be exerted to safeguard Lebanon,” Jumblat said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.

He voiced his support to this step, saying: “I appreciate the efforts exerted by those who took this initiative to prevent widening the political gap” between the foes in the country.

On Thursday, Speaker Nabih Berri postponed a parliamentary session set for Nov. 7 after holding talks with Prime Minister Najib Miqati to guarantee the participation of all parties.

Berri said a new date for the plenary session will be set at a later time.

Deputy Parliament Speaker Farid Makari recently postponed the joint parliamentary committees meeting over concern for the lives of MPs.

MP Marwan Hamadeh announced that March 14 deputies will not participate in the meetings because the current government cannot preserve their safety.

The assassination of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau head Wissam al-Hasan deepened the crisis between the March 14 and the March 8 coalition as the opposition insists on the resignation of the cabinet as a main condition to continue any political activity with its foes, while the March 8 coalition rejects the formation of a new government on allegations that there's no alternative.