Lebanon’s Walid Joumblatt has resigned as Progressive Socialist Party leader after 46 years at the helm of the political organisation.
Mr Joumblatt also stepped down from the party’s leadership council and called for a June 25 electoral convention, PSP news agency Al Anbaa reported on Thursday.
Mr Joumblatt, 73, a former warlord and leader of Lebanon’s most powerful Druze clan, did not give a reason for his unexpected resignation. He has previously voiced the desire that his son Taymour take a larger leadership role. Taymour has taken on a more public role in recent years, accompanying his father or standing in for him at events.
“There is absolutely zero suspense over who will be his successor,” said Karim Bitar, professor of international relations at the Saint Joseph University of Beirut.
“What will be interesting to see in the next few years is how will Taymour adapt to Lebanese politics.
“His temper is very different from his father’s: he's more discreet, more aloof. We still don't know much about his political views and alignments.”
Despite retaining leadership of the PSP, Mr Joumblatt took a step back from political life in 2018 when he ended his parliamentary career. He was replaced in the national assembly by his son, who was elected in the 2018 and 2022 parliamentary elections.
Mr Joumblatt’s resignation from party leadership after 46 years is “a turning point in Lebanese political history”, according to Mr Bitar.
“Nonetheless, Walid Joumblatt will continue to be a de facto leader of the Progressive Socialist Party. One does not really exit Lebanese politics when one’s name is Walid Joumblatt.”
Mr Joumblatt took over leadership of the PSP, a party with left-wing origins that has supporters primarily from the Druze sect, following his father’s assassination in 1977, two years into Lebanon’s 1975-1990 civil war.
The post made him the most powerful leader of Lebanon’s Druze community.
Mr Joumblatt deftly navigated Lebanon’s warring landscape, becoming notorious for pitting political parties against each other.
At various points in his political career, Mr Joumblatt was either aligned with Syria, which played a considerable role in Lebanon's civil war and the years following, or against it.
He maintained a significant role in Lebanese politics following the end of the conflict, joining the March 14 movement that was built around opposition to Syria’s military presence and influence in Lebanon.
Lebanon’s political system is built upon confessional quotas. The Druze sect is allotted eight seats in parliament, many of which are routinely won by the PSP, often giving them a decisive say in parliament.
Because of this, Mr Joumblatt was often considered to be a mediator between opposing political parties and played the role of kingmaker on several occasions.
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
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Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
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Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Armies of Sand
By Kenneth Pollack (Oxford University Press)
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VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
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