Aoun to Vote Only for Orthodox Proposal, but to Run in Polls even Under 1960 Law

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun stressed on Thursday that the members of his Change and Reform bloc will only vote on the so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal but would participate in the elections under any other law that garners the majority of votes at parliament.

In an interview with al-Akhbar newspaper, Aoun said: “We want to vote on the Orthodox proposal … after it garnered the support of the majority at the joint parliamentary committees.”

“If other parties have other plans then let them propose them to put them up for voting,” he said. “We will give consent to the proposal that gets the support of the majority” of MPs.

Asked if he would run in the elections if the Orthodox proposal wasn't adopted by parliament, Aoun said: “We will participate (in the polls) even under the 1960 law if the majority approves it.”

Rival MPs at a parliamentary subcommittee had been tasked with agreeing on a new law that would replace the 1960 law, which considers the qada an electoral district and is based on the winner-takes-all system.

But the lawmakers failed to reach an agreement on a new law.

The 1960 law was used in the 2009 elections with some amendments. The majority of parties have rejected it for not guaranteeing a fair representation for all the Lebanese, mainly Christians.

Speaker Nabih Berri has said he would call for a session on May 15 to vote on the Orthodox proposal for being the only plan approved by the joint committees despite the criticism of al-Mustaqbal bloc, the National Struggle Front and the March 14 Christian independent MPs.

Asked about the cabinet formation process, Aoun warned that the government could only be formed through consultations with the majority of parliamentary blocs.

He hinted that he would not give a vote of confidence “to people imposed on us.”

Aoun, who is a staunch supporter of the formation of a cabinet made up of political figures, criticized a proposal on the rotation of portfolios.

“How could a minister follow up projects in a short period of three months?” he mocked.

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam says he wants to form a government whose main responsibility is the supervision of the elections. He rejects having in it provocative political figures and election candidates.

“I reject the rotation for short periods because it hinders the work” of ministers, Aoun told al-Akhbar.

But he refused to give details on which portfolios he was after and who were his candidates. “I will not talk about names. I need to know the ministries first so that I decide who to appoint.”

Asked if he sought along with his alliance in the March 8 coalition a veto power in the new cabinet, Aoun said: “I want the distribution of seats to be made in accordance to the weight of parliamentary blocs.”

He added that he would seek for six ministers in a 30-member cabinet.