FPM Bloc Hits Out at Geagea: No One Should Explain Bkirki Charter Differently to Serve Their Interests

The Change and Reform bloc lashed out at Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Tuesday, accusing him of contradicting with the clauses of the Bkirki Charter.

"We are the party that values the Bkirki Charter and no one should explain it in different terms to serve their interests,” MP Ibrahim Kanaan stated after the bloc's weekly meeting.

Kanaan was responding to Geagea's press conference earlier in the day, in which the LF leader criticized Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Michel Aoun's support of the Charter.

"How can someone announce that they endorse the Charter while at the same time they are holding onto Hizbullah's weaponry?” Geagea asked. “This contradicts with the Charter's core content.”

Kanaan, however, slammed Geagea's statement and asked: “Who obstructed agreeing on an electoral law that was called for in the charter? Who extended the mandate of the parliament's term? Who prevented the formation of the cabinet for 11 months? Isn't it the party that did not want to collaborate with Hizbullah but later changed its mind? Who is suggesting vacuum in the presidency?”

He continued: “Did we discuss the Orthodox Gathering's electoral draft law in Bkirki or not? Was there consensus over it?”

“But in a moment the draft law was put on hold after it was already placed on the agenda.”

The FPM lawmaker noted at the beginning of his statement that the FPM did not support the Bkirki Charter “before studying it carefully and evaluating whether its main points are in harmony with the party's aspirations or not.”

“The pact that was mentioned in the Bkirki Charter signals religious coexistence and the Lebanese formula is not something accidental or temporary but is a permanent matter,” he said.

“The pact is not a temporary settlement that can be overthrown when there is a conflict of interests and of choices.”

He remarked: “The Charter therefore tackles 23 years of flawed partnership and coexistence.”

Regarding Lebanon's stance towards regional matters, Kanaan pointed out that the Bkirki Charter suggests neutrality in order to preserve pluralism in the country.

“This means that neutrality is a requirement for dealing with internal matters. The charter linked neutrality to Lebanon's strength, to the army, to the security forces and to the country's stance on regional matters such as the Palestinian cause,” he explained.

Kanaan added: "The Charter then says Lebanon must not be a passage or a site for regional conflicts."

“By this, the Charter is criticizing the foundation of the country's presence since 1990,” he stressed.

“We value the national values that the Maronite Patriarchy has proposed, the fears it has expressed, and the priorities it has set. What is left is setting a work plan for implementation.”

“We call for working to achieve these national goals to build a state with a positive neutral approach.”

Kanaan also called for forming a national unity cabinet.

Announced on Wednesday, the Bkriki Charter calls for staging the presidential elections on time and adhering to Lebanese national principles in order to save the country from dangers threatening it.