Aoun Says Will Not Run in Presidential Race if Mustaqbal Endorses Geagea
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun announced on Wednesday that he will not be a presidential candidate against Lebanese Forces head Samir Geagea, if the latter gained al-Mustaqbal Movement's support.
"If the March 14 coalition and al-Mustaqbal Movement announced their support for Geagea in the presidential elections, I will not nominate myself,” Aoun stated in an interview on Al-Mayadeen television.
"I will not be a nominee against Samir Geagea. I don't want to run against anyone,” he added.
“If conditions were favorable, I am a candidate for presidency, and I am a strong one. And if they were not, then I will not nominate myself.”
“My decision is not final yet,” he noted.
Aoun stressed that the same standards followed in choosing the speaker and the premier must apply to electing the new president, adding that "a presidential vacuum is possible if proper Christian representation was not respected."
“It is either we respect this Christian post and Christian representation or we don't,” he said.
The FPM leader remarked that without the support of the Shiites and the Druze, he will not be elected president.
He also rejected comparing the FPM's popularity with that of the LF, saying parliamentary elections are a clear indication of the popular support to either parties.
On his plans if elected president, Aoun said: “Lebanon's presidents come to the post with commitments to foreign nations. I am not that type and it is not about money or power. I want to leave a legacy, and I want to offer a program that solves problems on many levels in the country.”
“I have big plans for Lebanon and the country has been on the same path since 1943. We want to change this path.”
Asked about Hizbullah's resistance, Aoun commented that it would not have existed if people didn't embrace it.
“The resistance gave the best results and was able to do what all armies of the world were not capable of doing. All these nations looked up to the achievements of the resistance.”
He also acknowledged during the interview that he met with former Prime Minister Saad Hariri in the Italian capital Rome.
“We talked about collaboration in the future, and we opened a new chapter in bilateral relations,” he revealed.
Separately, Aoun said he would have hoped that the regime in Syria was democratic and respected people's desires.
“But what made us adopt a certain stance in respect to the situation in the country was our evaluation of alternatives that would prevail if the regime was overthrown,” he said,
He pointed out that Syrian President Bashar Assad's strength enabled him to endure until now, praising also the regime's "protection of Christians in the neighboring country."
S.D.B.
Y.R.
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02 April 2014, 21:43
Aoun: Army chief General Jean Qahwaji requires a constitutional amendment to be elected president. The constitution has not been respect at all since 1990 and it does not allow Qahwaji to be elected president.
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02 April 2014, 21:42
Aoun on extending president Michel Suleiman's term: I have stressed repeatedly on respecting the constitution and on electing a new head of state.
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02 April 2014, 21:41
Aoun: We thank Suleiman Franjieh on his support and we are more than friends. Of course I will support him if he decided to run for presidency.
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02 April 2014, 21:38
Aoun: The Syrian regime protected Christians as much as it protected itself. Before the war, there was no sectarianism in Syria, but a freedom of belief.
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02 April 2014, 21:34
Aoun: I have an education program to fight sectarianism.
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02 April 2014, 21:21
Aoun: We call for good relations with everyone, and national unity is far more important to me than presidency.
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02 April 2014, 21:17
Aoun: Assad improved his situation on ground remarkably. Since the beginning I supported good bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries.
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02 April 2014, 21:16
Aoun: We did not perceive any initiative from the Syrian opposition, but from Takfiris.
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02 April 2014, 21:15
Aoun: President Bashar Assad was strong and that's what enabled him to resist. But this caused destruction and chaos in Syria. Talks must resume in Syria.
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02 April 2014, 21:13
Aoun: We would have hoped that the regime in Syria was democratic and respected people's desires. What made us adopt a certain stance in respect to the situation in the country was evaluating the alternatives that would take over if the regime was overthrown.
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02 April 2014, 21:12
Aoun: We have received positives signs from Speaker Berri regarding the parliamentary session to elect a president.
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02 April 2014, 21:10
Aoun: I never endorse vacuum. And the same standards followed in choosing the speaker and the premier must apply to electing the new president. I do not want the presidency. It is either we respect this Christian post and Christian representation or we don't.
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02 April 2014, 21:08
Aoun: Each person must evaluate what Lebanon needs in the presidency, not their own needs.
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02 April 2014, 21:07
Aoun: I will not be a nominee against Samir Geagea. I don't want to be a nominee against anyone.
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02 April 2014, 21:06
Aoun: If the March 14 coalition announced its support for LF leader Samir Geagea for presidency, I will not nominate myself.
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02 April 2014, 21:05
Aoun: Without the support of the Shiites, the Druzes, and Hizbullah, I won't become president.
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02 April 2014, 21:04
Aoun: I have big plans for Lebanon and the country has been on the same path since 1943. We want to change this path.
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02 April 2014, 20:53
Aoun: Nothing is more important than national unity, and weapons are not our priority. We resist when the land is occupied.
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02 April 2014, 20:52
Aoun: I haven't received an invitation to visit Saudi Arabia and my relation with the kingdom has improved.
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02 April 2014, 20:51
Aoun: We want to befriend all Arab countries and any dispute with a nation, results in confusion inside the country.
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02 April 2014, 20:49
Aoun: We had to work on convincing everyone that making concessions is not important, but that we must find solutions to problems in order to form a cabinet. I am constantly in contact with al-Mustaqbal party.
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02 April 2014, 20:48
Aoun: I met with (former PM) Hariri once in Rome and the talks aimed at forming the cabinet. We talked about collaboration in the future, and we opened a new chapter in the relation between us.
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02 April 2014, 20:46
Aoun: I haven't conducted any evaluations or statistics on who supports me and who doesn't. I should be supported by all factions, and I am aiming at a three-party accord.
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02 April 2014, 20:45
Aoun: The popularity test takes place during the parliamentary elections. In university elections the results are always controversial, but the parliamentary results are clear. I do not want to compare my popularity with that of the Lebanese Forces.
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02 April 2014, 20:42
Aoun: There is no resistance without the people. The legitimacy of the resistance comes from the occupation. Everyone today acknowledges the threats on Lebanese water, oil and maritime border, in addition to the daily land and airspace violations.
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02 April 2014, 20:41
Aoun on the "wooden vs. golden equation:" We lament that some people lose their objectivity and speak out of their personal interests, rather than national ones.
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02 April 2014, 20:40
Aoun: The resistance gave the best results and was able to do what all armies of the world did not do. All these nations looked up to the achievements of the resistance.
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02 April 2014, 20:38
Aoun: Discussion over terms is useless and we would not have a resistance if it wasn't embraced by the people. The resistance came into being thanks to people's support, especially thanks to southerners' support.
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02 April 2014, 20:37
Aoun: The first decision I would take if I became president would be related to security, because there are many issues that need to be solved whether on the border with Syria or with Israel.
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02 April 2014, 20:36
Aoun: Lebanon's presidents come to the post with commitments to foreign nations. I am not that type, and I want to achieve the dream that I want. It is not about money or power, but I want to leave a legacy that would be remembered in Lebanon and I want to offer a program that solves problems on many levels in the country.
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02 April 2014, 20:34
Aoun: If a nominee was not independent, they cannot become president and will not accomplish anything.
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02 April 2014, 20:33
FPM leader MP Michel Aoun in an interview on Al-Mayadeen: If conditions were favorable, I am a candidate for the presidency, and I am a strong candidate. And if they were not, then I will not nominate myself and the decision is not final yet.
02 April 2014, 20:43
1216
He looks extremely healthy & young, for a man his age. Good luck General Aoun
02 April 2014, 21:23
1412
"Aoun: Without the support of the Shiites, the Druzes, and Hizbullah, I won't become president."
Without the support of the shiites, you are nobody!
02 April 2014, 23:12
107
usually at his age, your mind starts going in reverse.
soon the general will be playing with lego and playdoo.
03 April 2014, 01:42
85
fystic.....you do realise that pictures might be from archive.....nevertheless healthy or not man of his age or not ur comment did not add to the world but a waste of time....good luck aoun?? u want the country to go bye bye???
03 April 2014, 01:49
76
What kind of logic is that? Will not run against anyone?! No one understands democracy in this country???
03 April 2014, 15:32
11
FD, Bani Maarouf believes that he has gotten over with his chronic constipation, now he has acute diarhea.
03 April 2014, 17:28
00
Tex and Mystic, how come Haifa is so gorgeous and so desirable, yet old man Aoun who supposedly is taking the same treatment looks so ugly? Lols.
02 April 2014, 22:12
1112
@wolf<:-|, Speaking of urinating in pajamas, you know I still have the one he was wearing when he ran away and deserted his army and the people in back in 1990, I plan to put it on eBay once he shuffles off to the great beyond and an eternity by Mephistopheles side. It's my nest egg knowing that the general will leave all his ill-gotten gains to Bassil. Oh why why did I let Sami Nader go now I'm stuck with the three stooges Gebran, Roy and Chamel!
02 April 2014, 23:25
96
GMA always says," I....." too many times. He should think of the ones he represents more often. Aoun is owned by others and a slave to their agenda. Lebanon would be better served if Michel went back to France.
03 April 2014, 02:02
59
There are many in our country who are more and better qualified to lead the country than Aoun, Geagea, Frankjieh, Gemayel or any other relic from the 70s and 80s. We really have to move on or else we'll always be stuck in the past...
03 April 2014, 03:22
15
Not at all, I wish they would. I left them out of my post because I try not to post fiction.
03 April 2014, 04:35
37
Baroud should at least be a candidate and if there still is a spec of dignity in our country then he should have a good chance at reaching that post. He is a man of principle, educated and a visionary. However will he be able to survive the Lebanese political scene that is so corrupt? I really hope so
03 April 2014, 02:46
73
He al;ready did in this interview. How many times, and in how many ways must he say that the Past, Present and Future of Lebanon is the Resistance and its accomplishments that so astonished the whole world and accomplished what all other armies were unable to accomplish. That is his vision in a nut shell. He will get his revelation from its leader SHN.
03 April 2014, 02:51
74
OMG, your post is making me sick .... Are you sure Franjieh has a chance?
03 April 2014, 07:15
41
The man that enjoys the second largest presence in parliament (and the council) is more able to make things happen than Dr. Geagea. Also is Dr. Geagea able to unite the lebanese people? I think that General Michel Aoun also has important social, economic and educational plans. I hope he becomes Lebanon's next president, deservedly so.
J'estime que Michel Aoun est un homme honnete et patriotique entouré d'une equipe capable et professionelle et qu'il est l'homme fort dont le Liban a besoin a la presidence.
Bonne chance a tous les candidats (sauf a tous ceux qui ne sont pas Michel Aoun ou Sleimane Franjieh) et esperons que le meilleur soit élu!
03 April 2014, 07:23
41
Of course you can - in fact you should before taking a final stance - read in detail the many ideas and plans that Michel Aoun has in regards to education, economy, security and international relations in his book 'une certaine vision du Liban' available in different languages.
A lot has been said about this man in an effort to damage his image...
03 April 2014, 12:09
23
Aoun "I don't want to run against anyone,” he added."
Thank you for showing how democratic you can be !
Please Aoun, RUN ! Run against Geagea ! I'm not daring you, I'm begging you for the sake of a semblance of democracy !
03 April 2014, 12:59
01
@FD : HA made it loud and clear : They do not want Aoun. They do not want a "Strong president". And they certainly don't want to negotiate. Just read M8 toilet paper newspaper and you will see the weekly messages Hezbollah addresses to Aoun reminding him he's nothing without them.
This is why Aoun cannot run without Hariri's blessing.
For me, neither Geagea nor Aoun are options. Baroud is great ! He would in fact be the best president in a "utopic" world. But he's weak !
I believe Lebanon doesn't deserve democracy anyway because Lebanese are sheep and domesticated sheep do not understand freedom, opinion, politics or anything else. They only understand orders and their view of the world is limited to that dictated by their leaders and to the fences within which they roam.
03 April 2014, 15:36
11
No ya General Aoun, no, no and no, NOT you, and not Geagea, and not Amin Gemayel and not young Frangieh. Enough of you old lot, you old dinausors, wlak ya jame3a, ma fi gheyrkoun?! Wou 2eyss? We Lebanese have many great people, younger men and women, why do I, an educated citizen accept to be led by you guys, all of whom can't even make it to 3rd grade? Please, for the love of folk and nation, all of you, stay home and don't come out of it till we have a new person. Stay home and buckle it all of you, will you?!
03 April 2014, 15:38
01
Correct dear LF, correct, they are rich criminals who only want to get richer and more powerful. They are seriously expired stuff, not fit for anything except the dump of history. If anyone of them crooks is elected, then all of Lebanon should be thrown into that same dump, with all the Lebanese, period.
03 April 2014, 15:39
00
Jumblatt is the gate keeper of the dump site where all these sods should be dumped.
03 April 2014, 15:43
11
He is one of the good guys, one that is clearly separated from the bad and ugly.
