Introduction to the evening news 30-10-2011

MP Walid Jumblatt’s past choice to hold the PSP general assembly at the Beau Rivage was both a symbolic choice and a sign of his flip-flop. However, his choice to hold the general assembly today in Alley reflects his second shift in position.     

Jumblatt has half closed the door on March 8 and half-opened it for March 14; he has accordingly adopted a political speech which is reminiscent of his positions prior to the Beau Rivage’s general assembly:    

Defiance theories are ridiculous; they existed only to improve the terms of negotiation.     

The funding of the STL is a fundamental principle and key to stability.      

The Arab Tyranny killed Kamal Jumblatt.      

Jumblatt’s speech came amid an extremely delicate political period at both the domestic and external level.         

At the domestic level, the cabinet will hold a session on Tuesday to address volatile items:             
The electoral draft law which is drafted by Interior Minister Marwan Charbel on the grounds of proportional representation; the STL funding issue which is heating up the arm-wrestling between its supporters and strict rejectors; the wages dilemma: the Shura Council’s rejection of the decree and the Cabinet’s attempt to leverage this rejection to put forward another proposal, drafted by the ministerial committee, headed by PM Naajib Mikati.      
At the external level, all attention will be shifted, starting today, to Doha where the Arab Ministerial Committee tasked with addressing the Syrian crisis is holding a meeting in the presence of Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Mouallem. Press information revealed that the committee is waiting that the Syrian side provides answers to questions raised during last week’s visit to Damascus.