The head of the Progressive Socialist Party, Walid Jumblatt, stressed that "there must be joint Arab and international efforts to expedite the election of a president for the Republic of Lebanon, but we must not only wait for external assistance as Lebanese." He affirmed continuous openness to all parties and the ongoing dialogue, noting that the Free Patriotic Movement and Hezbollah are Lebanese components, and despite differences, dialogue must continue, as called for by President Nabih Berri, although some refused without justification.
In an interview with Egyptian Channel TEN, Jumblatt stated, "The President of the Republic is the head of state and must be because he is a symbol of national unity instead of being stuck in a debate about whether the Cabinet meets or not. For whose benefit do we enter into constitutional absurdity for the sake of some calculations? Hence, the importance of electing a President."
Jumblatt pointed out that "Hezbollah is present, and it may have Iranian political leadership, but it is a local entity representing a significant part of the Shiite community. When voices call for Hezbollah to be removed, it’s as if you are asking to remove a part of the Lebanese people. Therefore, we must accept reality and engage in dialogue until we reach a defense plan that can only be achieved through dialogue."
Regarding the outcomes of the Russian-Ukrainian war, Jumblatt remarked, "The harshest consequences of the war in Ukraine at the economic level have been the threat to food security and wheat. In the end, the winners of the war are the arms manufacturers in America and the West, while the losers are the Russian and Ukrainian peoples." He added, "America and some in the West are threatening Russia, and this war reminds me of the Crimean War."
