Aoun Says Won't Accept to be Excluded from Cabinet: Dispute with Hizbullah is over 'Building the State'
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun on Tuesday stressed that he will not accept to be excluded from the new cabinet, noting that his dispute with Hizbullah is over “the issue of building the state.”
“There is an attempt to form a cabinet without taking the views of others into consideration, which makes it a de facto cabinet,” Aoun said in an interview on his movement's mouthpiece OTV.
“A national unity cabinet is usually formed when there is a national crisis. Amid this crisis, should we gather people or divide them?” he said.
He revealed that he is not in contact with President Michel Suleiman over the cabinet formation process.
“I'm not in a conflict with anyone and there are two parties to the conflict: al-Mustaqbal and Hizbullah, while the conflict arena is Syria,” said Aoun.
Asked about the FPM's representation in the new cabinet, Aoun said: “All the officials who are in power cannot guarantee your rights if you are not represented in the cabinet.”
“I will not accept to be outside power while I'm in Lebanon and if you want to eliminate me, you have to tell me the reason,” he added.
Aoun noted that any understanding that does not happen according to “the principles of the constitution and the country's applicable laws” would be a "satanic alliance."
He stressed that “Hizbullah is an essential component of the Lebanese society and it cannot be excluded” from the new cabinet, adding that Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam's share “must be part of al-Mustaqbal's share in the government.”
Aoun reiterated that the representation of political forces in cabinet must be proportional to their parliamentary weight, noting that Najib Miqati's cabinet “was not one-sided, as the president, MP (Walid) Jumblat and PM Miqati were the other team” in the government.
Commenting on his relation with Hizbullah, Aoun said: “Our dispute with Hizbullah is over the issue of building the state which was mentioned in Article 4 of the memorandum of understanding.”
“I will continue the reform plan on my own,” Aoun said, adding that there is no disagreement over the “strategic” issues.
13 August 2013, 23:13
210
He's trying to make us swallow that he wants to build the State.
I have news for him, the States exists since 1943. It only needs commitments.
Aoun and HA are arguing about 1/ how to keep it weak 2/ who's going to get most of the looting.
13 August 2013, 23:32
14
Well, he's a creature of God.... Just like Azrael and the Djinn ;-)
13 August 2013, 23:33
24
he is after all, talking to otv. he gets tough questions like 'what did you have for breakfast this morning' instead of 'where in the constitution does it say this'?
the cycle of meds continues....
14 August 2013, 00:04
01
Why does Naharnet allow derogatory remarks from people? A well respected newspaper should edit all comments before publishing them, and ban from insulting each other or making defamatory remarks about others and especially politicians. Come on Naharnet, live up to Ghassan Tueini's legacy and raise your standard!
14 August 2013, 00:09
12
Let Suleiman and Salam form a government if they can. Who will be representing the Chiites?
14 August 2013, 00:41
03
Yo
A technocrat government takes the view of the interest of the nation , to build it, to revive it and to rebuild the institutions without the meddling of illiterate politicians.
This is simply productive, powerful and ideal tool of building a nation and maintaining a democracy.
Easy to get.
14 August 2013, 03:01
23
he supports of ha but has a major issue with HA over a most important thing which is building the state. he cannot agree with M14 yet M14 is a staunch supporter of building a state with strong institutions. vas comprendre!
14 August 2013, 03:38
24
wat a degenerate. he's mobilizing medias for something we don't care about today.
the priorities are : Hizballa's terrorism in Lebanon and their invasion of Syria, their arsenal and the proliferation of abductions on our soil....
14 August 2013, 10:40
10
When M14 were not represented in the Megati government Aoun didn;t utter a word about representation. if this is not double standard and hypocrisy what is then? Aoun should step aside fior two reason: he is very old and has lost his thinking faclties and second he's been so wishy-washy in his loyality which had cost him dearly in terms of popular support in the Christian arena.
14 August 2013, 13:37
11
come on m11--you can't expect him to read the constitution. all he wants to do is give good soundbites to otv where there don't question him (after all, the station is run by another family member).
