Aoun Urges Parties that Approved Orthodox Gathering Law to Respect their Commitment

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun warned on Tuesday that his movement's position towards all sides will change should Christian parties that backed the Orthodox Gathering electoral draft law retract their approval of it during Wednesday's parliament session.

He therefore urged after the Change and Reform bloc's weekly meeting the parties to respect their commitment.

“Some concessions over the electoral law need to be made,” he said in an indirect reference to the Mustaqbal bloc and MP Walid Jumblat's National Struggle Front that will not take part in the parliament session over their rejection of the Orthodox Gathering law.

Speaker Nabih Berri had called parliament to session to vote on the draft law.

His decision to make this law the sole article on parliament's agenda was criticized by the March 14 camp.

Aoun continued: “It is not possible for political camps to unanimously agree on an electoral law.”

“We cannot accept that the rights of Christians be usurped,” he stated in reference to some decisions to boycott Wednesday's session.

“By what right have they taken such a decision? Shouldn't they be respecting the Taif Accord?” he wondered.

Moreover, the MP said: “We believe that Christian existence is under threat in the region and we therefore call for Christian unity in order for them to restore their rights.”

He made his remark in reference to the Christian Lebanese Forces and Phalange Party that agreed, along with the FPM and Marada Movement, to the Orthodox Gathering draft law.

“This law does not belong to us, but to all parties,” declared Aoun.

“We will remain democratic individuals and we call on others to adopt our approach. We only have 24 hours left to reach an agreement on the Orthodox Gathering law,” added the FPM leader.

Parliament is set to convene to vote on the proposal, which was rejected by President Michel Suleiman, caretaker Premier Najib Miqati, the Mustaqbal bloc, National Struggle Front, and independent March 14 lawmakers.

The proposal considers Lebanon a single electoral district and allows each sect to vote for its own MPs under a proportional representation system.

Its opponents claim that it encourages extremism and leads to more sectarianism in the country. But the March 8 alliance along with the Lebanese Forces and Phalange Party from March 14 stress that the plan is the only way to guarantee the best representation of Christians.

The Mustaqbal bloc, National Struggle Front, March 14's independent Christian lawmakers, Miqati and caretaker Minister of State Ahmed Karami are boycotting Wednesday's session.