Source: “Jumblatt Hails Obama’s Election as Victory for World’s Oppressed,” The Daily Star, Nov. 7 2008.
“…While expressing the hope that the American experience might be mirrored in Lebanon, Jumblatt was also critical of the Lebanese version of the democratic process. “This consensus democracy is very fragile, old and miserable and governed by sectarianism,” he said, adding that the next parliamentary elections would not bring about the rise of a third party, independent political bloc and that its results would not necessarily serve the interests of Lebanon’s youth. Jumblatt did, however, welcome the new electoral law and the possibility of an independent bloc that could “loosen strict bipartisanship.” “The Lebanese democracy should be renewed and reintroduced with reforms,” he said. Jumblatt also offered support for the establishment of the Higher Council for Erasing Political Sectarianism, a yet-to-be-formed committee that he called “one of the most important aspects of the the Taif Accord,” the two-decade old agreement that marked the end of the Lebanese Civil War. “Through the council we can launch a parliament free of sectarianism, and if religious groups want to be represented than let’s create a senate,” Jumblatt said.The Taif Accord, signed in 1989, called for the creation of such a council as well as the formation of a bicameral legislature, namely the creation of a Lebanese senate.”
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Source: “Jumblatt hopes election committee will be the start of new phase”, NOW Lebanon, December 15 2008.
Democratic Gathering bloc leader MP Walid Jumblatt said that, while the formation of a committee to oversee Lebanon’s parliamentary elections may not be ideal, it could be the start of an electoral environment free of chaos, tension, intimidation and threats.
In his weekly column for Al-Anbaa daily, which is run by Jumblatt’s Progressive Socialist Party, the MP wrote that “the ability of political forces” to embrace “national responsibility” in the coming elections would establish a new phase to re-establish trust and credibility among Lebanese parties and “pave the way for a state project that takes into account the concerns of all parties and protects all citizens without exception.”
“We look forward to the adoption of a new law different from the current law, against which we clearly objected to since the outset, but the political conditions necessitated the adoption,” Jumblatt said in reference to the electoral law adopted in Doha in May, 2008.
The MP also said he hoped that the Taif Accord would be implemented in terms of the formation of a senate concerned with national issues and that took into account the representation of Lebanon’s major communities.
And on economic and livelihood issues, Jumblatt highlighted the importance of the public transport sector and its benefits to citizens, saying that it was necessary to purchase new buses and regulate taxis. Jumblatt also called for tightened security measures against illegal vehicles.
