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The “initiatives” for the election of a new President of the Republic are multiplying. Following the “unsuccessful” venture of the National Moderation bloc, the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) starts their own today.
The party’s leader, Taymour Joumblatt, is due to hold talks in a while with the leader of the Lebanese Forces (FL), Samir Geagea, followed at 2pm by talks with the leader of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), Gebran Bassil.
To understand the PSP’s approach, This Is Beirut spoke to PSP MP Wael Bou Faour.
What is the PSP initiative, and how does it differ from those of other parties?
First of all, it’s important to understand that we’re not launching an initiative, in the sense that we don’t have any new political elements. We’re rather trying to find a way out of a problem that has been going on for over a year and a half. How can we do this? Simply by building on both the French initiative and that of the Quintet. We need to move the process forward by proposing a new formula for a dialogue or concertations on which everyone can agree on, in order to break the political deadlock.
Could your approach succeed where others have failed?
We cannot guarantee the success of our project. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. What we do know is that most leaders recognize the need for some semblance of dialogue or consultation before the elections. The difference of opinion lies, however, in the formula to be adopted. And that’s where we’ve decided to step in: to put forward ideas for implementing the modalities that could lead to dialogue or concertation. We can’t tell you more at the moment.
The Speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berry, wants to be at the head of any consultations, at a time when certain political parties consider that this is a practice to which he has no right under the law.
It is the right of the Speaker to preside over consultations. We cannot disregard these prerogatives granted to him, and no one can prevent him from carrying out his role. As far as we, the PSP, are concerned, our approach is not to exclude him from these consultations.
