Former PSP leader Walid Joumblatt. (AFP archive photo)
The former head of the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP), Walid Joumblatt, justified on Thursday evening his support and that of his political party for the candidacy of the commander of the army, Joseph Aoun, for the presidency, stressing the "central" role of the general in maintaining stability in the country.
These remarks, made during a meeting of the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations (NCUSAR), are in line with the announcement made a few days ago by the parliamentary bloc of the Democratic Gathering, of which the PSP – led by his son Teymour Joumblatt - constitutes the main component.
Aoun, who has led the Lebanese army since 2017, “represents an important institution and has played a central role in maintaining order in Lebanon,” explained Joumblatt, a little less than three weeks before the presidential parliamentary session scheduled for Jan. 9. He also stressed that “it is very important, at this stage, to preserve the stability of the country to guarantee its security,” while the cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, which came into force on Nov. 27, ended more than 13 months of fighting and two months of escalation across the country.
Preferring "the election of a head of state during the session of Jan. 9, under the current administration of American President Joe Biden, without waiting for the entry into office – on Jan. 20 – of the new Trump administration," Joumblatt stressed that "the two American administrations (those of Biden and Trump) support the candidacy of Joseph Aoun."
Visit to Syria
On the Syrian issue, Joumblatt confirmed that he will travel to Syria this Sunday, accompanied by members of the PSP and the Druze AKL Sheikh Sami Abi el-Mouna, the leader of this community. He stressed that "stability in Syria is essential to that of Lebanon, and Syria needs to be given a chance and helped."
The visit will mark the first meeting between a Lebanese political figure and Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, real name Ahmad al-Sharaa, leader of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTC) and the rebel coalition that has taken power in Syria.
Joumblatt had been boycotting Bashar al-Assad and his family for years, whom he accuses of having assassinated his father, Kamal Joumblatt, in 1977. Joumblatt's last visit to Damascus was in January 2011, a few weeks before the start of the anti-government demonstrations that were bloodily repressed by Assad. In 2013, Jumblatt said that he and his son would only go to Syria "when it is liberated from the gang that is currently in power."
