Jumblatt blames Iran for hampering election of president

Democratic Gathering bloc leader MP Walid Jumblat stated on Thursday that Iran is obstructing the election of a Lebanese president, blaming it for the two-year vacuum at the post, An Nahar daily reported.

“Obstructions hampering the elections of a head of state are Iranian,” said Jumblat in an interview to the daily.

Jumblatt urged the two candidates running for the post, founder of the Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun and Marada chief MP Suleiman Franjieh, to “review” their positions “even if they had to withdraw” from the race paving way for the election of another candidate.

On the suggestion of Speaker Nabih Berri that called for shortening the term of the current parliament, Jumblatt said: “I agree to stage early elections but it must be held based on the 1960 electoral law.”

Hezbollah declared earlier this year that it would boycott the polls unless it receives guarantees that its candidate, Aoun, is elected head of state.

This stance has drawn criticism from the March 14 camp and Jumblat, who accused Hezbollah’s main ally, Iran, of obstructing the elections, Naharnet reported.

"I don’t think it is in Saudi Arabia or Iran’s interest to let the situation in Lebanon deteriorate," Jumblatt said in an interview with al-Akhbar newspaper.

Jumblatt re-affirmed that he will never resume his ties with the Assad regime, Kataeb.org reported.