Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) leader MP Walid Jumblatt announced Sunday he would be dropping out of the majority March 14 alliance.
“Our alliance with March 14 forces was driven by necessity and must not continue,” Jumblatt said before promising “to rethink a new formation that would provide a way out of bias and prevent being pulled toward the [political] Right.”
Jumblatt, the most prominent leader of the Lebanese Druze community, has long been an outspoken opponent of Syria, Iran and Israel. He said he wanted his party to return to its historic pan-Arab, socialist and anti-Israeli positions.
The March 14 coalition comprised, among others, of the PSP, Future Movement, Lebanese Forces and the Qornet Chehwan Gathering. The party formed into an anti-Syrian alliance following their majority victory in the June 7 parliamentary elections.
Following March 14’s electoral victory, however, the alliance faced sectarian tensions between Lebanese Prime Minister-elect Saad Hariri and Jumblatt. “The June 7 parliamentary elections led to sectarian alliances which should be eliminated,” Jumblatt told supporters.
Jumblatt’s bloc holds 11 seats in the parliament. Their loss could decrease March 14’s majority from 71 to 60 seats.
