Geagea: March 8 Camp Forcing us to Choose between its Presidential Candidate or Vacuum
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea accused on Wednesday the March 8 camp of seeking to impose vacuum in the position of the presidency following the failure of the second round of the presidential elections in light of a lack of quorum at parliament.
He said during a press conference: “The camp is forcing us to choose between its presidential candidate or vacuum.”
He noted that for decades and despite the various political disputes, the presidential elections have never been obstructed over a lack of quorum.
“Quorum is needed in order to hold the polls and it should not be exploited to obstruct them,” he declared.
Furthermore, Geagea accused the March 8 camp of “abusing and blackmailing the constitution.”
“Today's practices are unconstitutional, they are not a democratic right because they are serving dubious purposes,” said the LF chief, who is a candidate in the elections.
“Lawmakers who did not attend today's session shamelessly hindered democracy,” he stressed.
Indirectly referring to the Change and Reform bloc, he remarked: “We wonder how a major Christian camp that is keen on averting vacuum was the leading bloc in hindering quorum.”
He referred to a March 28 meeting that was chaired by Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi and attended by the three main Maronite leaders in Lebanon, Kataeb Party chief Amin Gemayel, Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Michel Aoun, Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh, and LF representatives, that demanded that the elections be held on time.
Geagea indirectly noted that the Change and Reform bloc and Marada Movement lawmakers did not commit to the pledges made at that meeting.
He therefore urged al-Rahi to ensure the implementation of the agreement reached at the talks.
The LF leader also reiterated his demand for the March 8 camp to present its candidate for the presidency, adding however that he has little faith that the alliance will commit to practicing democracy.
The Bkirki meeting had stressed the need to hold the elections on time and according to the constitution.
“The gatherers urged the need to elect a president who holds Lebanon's interests at heart and who can effectively carry out his national duties,” a Bkirki spokesman said at the time.
“They will oppose any concession or settlement that will undermine Lebanon's interests,” he added.
Geagea did not attend the meeting at the time for security reasons, but approved of their decisions after contacting al-Rahi.
Lawmakers once again failed on Wednesday to elect a new president as differences between the March 8 and 14 alliances led to a lack of quorum in the second parliamentary session aimed at choosing a new head of state.
While the March 14 camp held onto its candidate Geagea, the Hizbullah-led March 8 alliance, except for Speaker Nabih Berri's Development and Liberation bloc, boycotted the second round of the elections over lack of consensus on one candidate.
Berri set May 7 for a third round of voting.
M.T.
G.K.
30 April 2014, 14:08
511
sure for sissy M8ers their notion of democracy is to elect THEIR candidate or choose chaos... very patriotic indeed these baath lovers are...
30 April 2014, 14:13
511
but who is their candidate? seems they whine on M14 candidate but do not have the guts to officially present theirs!
30 April 2014, 17:06
33
it is preferable to have vacuum than to have a president forced on us.
30 April 2014, 14:30
48
M8 believe elections = forcing a candidate on the people.
A candidate which has announced 0 political programs and has no plan to salvage Lebanon.
A candidate who not only fled the country like a coward during his last "tenure" but is now allies with the very people he fought.
A candidate which had abandonned his ideals and beliefs to serve an ego-maniac drive to become president.
A candidate who let down all his original supporters who fought for his beliefs.
A Aoun who is no longer Aounie ! Who has lost all integrity !
Aoun as president will be the doom of Lebanon !
30 April 2014, 15:26
46
Indeed, Michel Aoun, leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, has basically indicated that he will not stand unless guaranteed to win. Is this the election of a president or a schoolyard game, where the rules are “it’s me or no elections?”
This is how M8 played the Political game when it came to Cabinet formations or Presidential elections. OUTLAWS.
30 April 2014, 15:45
42
The time to set elections is overdue, we need to renew the parliament. Many are not attending nor doing their job. The people know this and it will have an influence on the outcome.
30 April 2014, 15:46
43
i am neither m8 or m14, although did have a soft spot in the past for m14 after the May attacks by the Hezb, but to have Geagea elected as President would be a mockery of the History and values the Nation and we would be the laughing stock in Global Politics.
In most cases, to apply for a job and Police Check is done to see if you have convicted of a crime and then not be considered for employment in certain roles. To have the President of our Republic the Head Of State who was convicted and in prison to be even eligible to be a President purely based on his religious background shows how behind the times Lebanese Politics is.
30 April 2014, 15:46
33
Any individual or 'war lord' who participated in the civil war who has blood on their hands should be crossed off the list and legitimate members be cast as possible nominations. Im not naming names, but lets get real the President should not be affiliated to any political party or group, he/she should serve the nation as a true representative of our great nation to the rest of the world.
If that doesnt work then they might as well append the constitution and extend Pres Michel Sliemans term until they find some who will Represent Lebanon and not the vested interest of thier respective political parties.....
30 April 2014, 15:50
33
Quite simply, Aoun's pride and fear of losing will not allow him to declare unless he knows before hand that he is assured of the 65 votes. He'll never get there and sooner or later he must give it up. The sooner the better as the constitutional government is evaporating as the de facto Hezbollah government is rising. Aoun, fixated on the Presidency and thereby obstructing the process is the instrument by which Hezbollah rises on the ashes of the Lebanese Republic. His word to the Patriarch to avoid this outcome means nothing. His blind empty ambition means everything.
30 April 2014, 15:51
44
I love your boxing match. At least Geagea gets in the ring.
Aoun is too much of a coward to get in and will only accept to box against a punching ball and even so, it will hit him back in the face.
Aoun is a bankrupt politician and if he reaches presidency, it will only be by blackmail or force which means he doesn't deserve it ! It will be the doom of Lebanon ! Geagea would not make a better president but at least he has the courtesy to present a program and play the democratic game.
30 April 2014, 18:33
43
@Wolf : he had no problem during the war. If you think one second that Aoun is any more worthy than Geagea to be president, you're an idiot.
Both are scum... turn the page, move on from Lebanon's dark past ! None of these men can be part of our future !
01 May 2014, 22:55
00
@FT : where do you see he's defeated ? He enjoys the largest amount of votes.
In fact, if Aoun were in the same "ring", he would get less votes. That's why he's scared shitless of measuring himself against Geagea because he's a coward.
Sincerely, hope he dies soon so your hero in law Gebran Bassil can make an even bigger fool of himself. by the way, he should actually become candidate for presidency in Syria. He has more chances there !
30 April 2014, 15:53
43
m14 should relax and take it easy.
Time is on their side, vacuum strategy might be good for HizbIran or syrian Amal/Marada/SSNP/Baath, but not for FPM.
A part of their christian basis just won't accept it. Then they will have to discuss with M14. It's Nash Equilibrium.
All M14 needs to do is to make an agreement on Baroud or Qahwaji or Helou with PSP, and keep coming to all sessions...
30 April 2014, 19:16
42
relax M11, they're playing their part, m14 should play its part as well.
Geagea should himself propose Amin, Baroud or Sami just to embarass them a bit. To show that M8 rejects the ideas not the candidates...
30 April 2014, 19:28
50
I would think the one clear principle of Lebanese law is that democracy is the process by which the minority rules. March 8, representing in the main the Shiite majority as part of the Muslim super-majority, is thus the last group that should expect to get its way.
30 April 2014, 20:31
32
lack of disclosure address aoun and frangieh breaking pledge made to bkirki!
01 May 2014, 01:37
10
When foreign interests have divided Lebanon and fighting a proxy war inside our Wattan, the victor will fundamentally change the fabric of our society, dictate and put a face on our politicians.
