Geagea Downplays Survey Criticism, Says it Aims at Revealing Most Influential Christian Parties
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea downplayed the criticism of a survey that his party and the Free Patriotic Movement plan to carry out as part of efforts to resolve the presidential deadlock.
“I don't understand why the issue has stirred such reactions although all parties carry out surveys on the elections and other issues,” Geagea said in remarks published on Monday.
He told An Nahar newspaper that since Aoun proposed holding the poll earlier this year, the LF did not show any objection to it because it is not unconstitutional.
“We are not imposing anything on anyone,” Geagea stressed.
The survey is aimed at showing “which are the main Christian parties (in the country) because that would push others to relatively respect this fact,” he told the daily.
According to An Nahar, Kataeb Party leader Amin Gemayel has criticized the plans to carry out the survey.
The Kataeb is one of the four main Christian parties in the country.
The daily said that the firm which will carry out the survey was chosen and a plan is being implemented to guarantee transparency in the results.
It quoted an informed source as saying that it will not be a referendum and will not violate the constitution.
Asked about the implementation of a declaration of intent that Geagea and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun announced earlier this month, the LF chief said: “Let's be realistic, no one is waiting after 30 years of differences to have a 90-degree change.”
“Things are progressing gradually and we are taking steps towards the implementation of the declaration of intent,” he said.
“We are seeking at the same time to resolve the issue of the presidency,” Geagea told An Nahar.
“Some people have puzzled us. If we keep our differences, they criticize us and if we agree, we also receive criticism,” he added.
In their declaration of intent, the two Christian leaders called for “the election of a strong president who is embraced by his community and capable of reassuring the other components of the country.”
The presidential candidates agreed to strengthen state institutions, not to resort to arms or violence and to support the army.
The two parties also stressed commitment to dialogue and underlined “their faith in Lebanon, the coexistence formula and the constitution.”
G.K.
D.A.
29 June 2015, 10:15
23
The idea of a survey to gage popularity is foolish, cynical and idiotic to say the least, no wonder it was concocted by aoun, they are inherently and habitually inaccurate, as the latest elections in the UK, Turkey, Israel have shown; that is unless they are going to call and ask for every single Lebanese Christian's opinion.
29 June 2015, 10:49
23
A poll - to reflect the reality - must take into account the opinions of the Lebanese abroad. How are you going to do that????
29 June 2015, 19:25
02
So they agree to hold polls!! Why not elections, I was under the impression that elections reflect the winner as the 'most popular'!! Ridiculous.
30 June 2015, 05:00
00
No where in the U.S. constitution is there mention of political parties and the political apparatus of tje two principal political parties in the U.S. Yet, we have political parties, political primary elections, political conventions to win ballot access, etc.
So in Lebanon, why not this"survey"? It is, in effect, a presidential preferential primary, to determine the top two candidates whose nomination is presented to the electoral body, the Lebanese Parliament. This does not require an amendment to the Lebanese constitution, but adds process to the election.
30 June 2015, 05:02
00
Rather than a survey, why not call the people to cast their vote in a genuine primary election with the top two candidates names submitted to Parliament for a final vote. It is very democratic for Lebanon.
30 June 2015, 13:45
00
It is just silly and dangerous to rely on such poll even if it is not constitutional .
First : no any poll can be objective as it is always manipulated through the questions and the choice of individuals
Second: this stupid poll is, mainly, choice between two polititicians who are definitely not the best educated and respected As compared to others.
Third : it gives the world the false opinion that we run out of honest and smart people
Fourth: no matter what the outcomes are the situation will be worse as supporter of either camps will stay stubborn with their opinion and maybe in a more divisive way ( just ask Frangieh)
Fifth : we have a parliament (even if it is not the best). We have a government. Stop considering us as sheep flock belonging to one or the other.
Go to the parliament like REAL men not kids and be voted democratically.
The majority of Lebanese are fed up
This stupid game is gone too far
30 June 2015, 16:00
00
@PEACE. This is not a bad idea at all to have a primary poll taken. Not a survey or an opinion poll, but a primary vote where all of the people of Lebanon can participate in a national primary election where all candidates put themselves before the people and the people vote. The top 2 or 3 candidates are then submitted for a vote by the Parliament as prescribed in the Constitution.
Here in the US there are 14 Republican candidates and at least 3 Democratic candidates for the US Presidency. If not for the party organization and the winnowing process of the primary campaign, the election in November 2016 would be chaotic. So the primary process tests the relative strengths of the candidates and only the strong survive and are submitted to Parliament. This also gives Parliament political cover among the people in that they are selecting from candidates that have been preselected by the people themselves.
