Aoun: Miqati Didn’t Pledge to Anything that Caused Collapse of Previous Government

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun stressed on Tuesday that a new government will be formed in a few days, adding that the movement has not yet discussed with Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati the distribution of cabinet portfolios it seeks to head.

He said after the movement’s weekly meeting: “Whoever wants to take part in the new Cabinet should accept the new reality and the opinion of the majority.”

Furthermore, he noted that Miqati didn’t pledge to any matter that caused the collapse of the previous government.

“No one can continue on accepting the Special Tribunal for Lebanon after becoming part of a new government … The STL is an assault against our sovereignty and it will be tackled based on Lebanese and international law,” he continued.

“No one is immune” and all files will be opened, which will be handled by the judiciary, he added.

“The problem isn’t sectarianism, but corruption,” the MP stressed.

Addressing the January 25 violent protests against Miqati’s appointment, Aoun stated: “Had we been attacked, we would not have retaliated and we prevented the eruption of strife.”

Asked if the opposition would be granted a blocking minority in a new Cabinet, he responded: “Is the blocking minority aimed at paralyzing the country once again? When we were part of the blocking minority, we didn’t present anything positive, but we thwarted several issues that were against the country’s interest.”

Commenting on the protests in Egypt, Aoun said that the solution to the crisis lies in changing its regime.