Change and Reform: We Will Not Vote for Compromise President
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
The Change and Reform bloc defended on Tuesday its decision to boycott last week's presidential elections session, saying that it is a political right.
It said after its weekly meeting: “We will not vote for a compromise president.”
“A compromise president means relinquishing some of the fundamental principles of the state,” added former Labor Minister Salim Jreissati after the bloc's meeting.
“We support a capable and all-embracing president who does not provoke any side,” he continued.
“We are prepared to elect a president who enjoys the qualities we have mentioned,” he said.
He therefore explained that Change and Reform bloc chief MP Michel Aoun chose not to run in the elections in order to avoid acting as a provocative candidate.
Jreissati stressed the need for the election of a president “who adheres to the National Pact, which is the cornerstone of political life.”
Moreover, he stated: “Agreement, not consensus should be reached over the presidency, because consensus entails concessions.”
“Are they bothered that we are holding contacts with head of the Mustaqbal Movement Saad Hariri? We are at least communicating with an influential Lebanese figure,” Jreissati said in an indirect reference to criticism the Change and Reform bloc received over its boycott of last week's presidential elections.
“At least Hariri chose to make concessions that led to the formation of a government,” he noted.
Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil of the Change and Reform bloc had held talks last week with Hariri in Paris on the presidential elections.
They stressed the need to hold the elections on time.
Lawmakers last week failed 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 Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, the Hizbullah-led March 8 alliance, except for Speaker Nabih Berri's Development and Liberation bloc, boycotted the second round over lack of consensus on one candidate.
The third round of the polls is scheduled for Wednesday, but hopes are low that quorum will be met due to the lingering political differences.
M.T.
Y.R.
06 May 2014, 17:58
312
“Are they bothered that we are holding contacts with head of the Mustaqbal Movement Saad Hariri? We are at least communicating with an influential Lebanese figure,”
you mean the very same "influential" figure that you tried but failed to humiliate and issued an one-way ticket..
06 May 2014, 18:03
312
53 minutes ago Jreissati: We have never wavered in pursuit of the rise of the state.
of course yes you never wavered and you support an armed sectarian militia whose existence contradicts with the state. A militia answerable to a foreign country that went into Syria and brought us refugees, suicide bombers, and death.
06 May 2014, 20:49
29
the brave general that ran away and let his men die.
He should be tried in front of martial court for that...
07 May 2014, 07:10
24
relevant as usual... the only fake accounts proven so far are yours and your friend mowaten and roar/wolf.
07 May 2014, 08:14
16
I await the day when I will read ONE meaningful post, ONE counter argument, ONE credible or mature info from you, -...flamethrower...- , but alas!
06 May 2014, 18:03
112
General Michel Aoun chose not to run in the elections in order to avoid acting as a provocative candidate.
Mr. Geagea should follow General Aoun's example.
06 May 2014, 18:14
212
don't kid yourself. Aoun chose not to run because he couldn't persuade harriri to support him. if Harriri changes his mind ClAoun would jump out of his shoes and pants to run for president.
06 May 2014, 18:19
112
You are the one claiming Aoun works for CIA, which is false. All points out that the biggest American supporter of Lebanon, are the president candidate of the M14 Camp - Mr. Geagea the Zionist.
06 May 2014, 18:43
210
I think he means CLAOUN ... not CIA aoun :)
The CIA is a dirty organisation but would not sink to levels as low as Aoun as he cannot be trusted.
In fact, Hassan Nasrallah doesn't even trust him. This is why he's not backing him and why Aoun is ashamed of presenting his candidacy !
07 May 2014, 05:55
13
thanks FC. yep Lebanon's one and only ClAoun. CIA aoun is pretty funny though.
07 May 2014, 08:14
05
I await the day when I will read ONE meaningful post, ONE counter argument, ONE credible or mature info from you, -...flamethrower...- , but alas!
06 May 2014, 18:22
00
best solution so the members of parliament wont take hostage the Lebanese in any election and not to let the outside interfere with elections
amend the constitution and let the people decide by voting
god bless Lebanon and democracy
06 May 2014, 18:26
63
Lebanon4life
I agree with you Either Ziad Baroud or Damianos Kattar are our best hope. Unfortunately they stand no chance since they are educated, clean, ethical with both having the desire to rescue Lebanon. Our 128 crooks prefer one of their own i.t. corrupt, crook with blood on their hands
06 May 2014, 18:41
23
“We support a capable and all-embracing president who does not provoke any side,” he continued.
poor FPMers... a president that calls to integrate hezbollah into the only armed forces that should exist in ANY country is provoking them? LOL
what a sense of sovereignty and strength they have for a state! instead of saying yes, hezbollah should not defy the state and OBEY it, they encourage it to continue to obey a foreign state LOL....
06 May 2014, 18:41
26
Thank you Claoun for showing your real agenda : PREVENT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS AT ALL COSTS !
No to a consensus candidate, no to a M14 candidate.
Yes to presidential vacuum !
Basically, Aoun is hijacking the elections and imposing himself by force as would any dictator do.
Bravo Aounies !
06 May 2014, 19:29
23
So that are not for a compromise to get a candidate, but for a consensus candidate, one that is discovered by means other than compromise? How is consensus reached without compromise?
Then they say, "“We support a capable and all-embracing president who does not provoke any side,” Okay, and Aoun has not submitted his name because he is not that candidate, he provokes at least one of the sides.
So, who is their consensus candidate that will be discovered without compromises with the other sides? Will he (she) descend from heaven and suddenly appear. Is this magical candidate within our midst and we can't see him (her)? Or maybe all are blind except the Aouni who see the consensus candidate clearly? Ha! It is the Aouni who are blind, not the other way around.
