Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt launched on Friday a fierce attack on Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab, accusing him of setting the stage for a political and financial coup.
MP Wael Abu Faour, who is a PSP official, has revealed that Diab has been threatening Jumblatt.
On Thursday, Diab said in a televised address that around two percent of the country's depositors would be affected by an economic rescue plan.
In a tweet on Friday, Jumblatt said: “Mr. Diab, seizing the people’s money is the idea of security personnel …. because you are preparing for a financial and political coup to take over the country.”
On Friday, Abu Faour also commented on Diab’s televised address, deeming it “gloomy”, saying claims of government neutrality, with the exception of some cabinet ministers, were all lies.
For his part, Democratic Gathering Parliamentary Bloc MP Faysal al-Sayegh wrote on Twitter that President Michel Aoun and his allies should be busy solving the country’s economic crisis instead of holding other parties responsible for the collapse.
PSP secretary-general Zafer Nasser told Asharq Al-Awsat that Jumblatt is in contact with head of al-Mustaqbal Movement Saad Hariri, who agrees with Speaker Nabih Berri on opposing any haircuts.
Nasser said Jumblatt’s campaign against Diab came after the government failed to save the country from an economic collapse and because the PM became a tool in the hands of some political parties and movements instead of acting as a technocrat.
“Where is the reform plan that the international community is asking for? What happened to the administrative appointments last week?” Nasser asked.
“Let them know that no political party can abolish another,” he said.
