Aoun: I Have No Demands Concerning New Cabinet, I Am Only Defending Constitution and National Charter

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun stressed on Tuesday that despite the tensions in the Arab world, which he said are only temporary, the stability in Lebanon will not be affected.

Addressing the government formation process, he stated after the movement’s weekly meeting: “There is nothing new to report in the cabinet formation.”

“Why should we grant the president a minister in government when he already has all 30?” he asked.

“I have no demands concerning the new government. I have a certain number of MPs, according to whom I should be represented in Cabinet. I don’t have demands but they do,” he added.

“I only defend the constitution and national charter,” the MP stressed.

Regarding the recent WikiLeaks reports revealing positions of various politicians during the past few years, Aoun said: “I have taken responsibility for the statements issued by members of my parliamentary bloc, but who will be held accountable for Defense Minister Elias Murr’s positions?”

“Who is responsible for the Interior Ministry’s shortcomings in the prison file?” he asked.

Addressing Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s recent position on Iran, Aoun remarked: “Iran stood by us during the July 2006 war and it does not interfere in Lebanese internal affairs.”

The MP stated that the FPM meeting also addressed the prison file in Lebanon given the recent unrest in Roumieh prison, saying: “There are issues that should have been addressed a long time ago, but it’s good that they are being tackled now.”