Aoun Says FPM Seeking to End Presidential Vacuum: A Matter of Existence
Change and Reform bloc MP Alain Aoun stressed Saturday that Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun's presidential initiative is set to reach a mechanism that ends the vacuum at the Baabda Palace.
“We are seeking solutions... the core of the problem is Christian and not linked to a person... it's a matter of rights,” Aoun said in an interview with An Nahar newspaper.
He accused some sides of waiting for regional developments to engage in the presidential elections.
“We are calling (on parties) to end the existing situation... we are seeking to reach consensus on a certain mechanism,” Aoun pointed out.
Vacuum striking the presidential post since May last year is having a tough impact on the cabinet and the parliament as the state is threatened with further crises over ongoing rows between the rival parties.
Aoun considered that the initiative is set to end differences over the controversial presidential elections.
The lawmaker said that “it's a matter of existence for us... we want our voice to be heard in the presidential polls and our participation in decision-making on all levels would guarantee our continuation.”
“The presidential elections became a matter of life and death for us.”
He condemned attempts to “limit Christians at state institutions.”
“The Christians want to engage in a presidential elections battle but the rest refuse that and want us to agree on a consensual figure,” Aoun told his interviewer.
He voiced pessimism, considering that it's a deadend.
“We are seeking to rectify the mistakes done against Christians... by agreeing on a mechanism that satisfies them. Muslims have to admit that there's a problem and give consensual solutions,” the lawmaker noted.
Aoun expressed belief that Christians could agree on a mechanism “even if they failed to agree on a candidate.”
On Friday, a delegation from Aoun's Change and Reform bloc concluded a tour on political parties to garner consensus on an initiative proposed to end the presidential stalemate.
The delegation had met with Lebanese Democratic Party, Progressive Socialist Party official Taymor Jumblat, and the son of MP Walid Jumblat, Hizbullah, Mustaqbal Movement, AMAL, Marada Movement, Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, Lebanese Forces and Kataeb Party parliamentary blocs.
Aoun's initiative sets four solutions to the presidential deadend, at the forefront the election of a president directly from the people in two phases, first by the Christians, who would eliminate candidates and on a second phase by the Lebanese people.
Another solution would be a popular referendum and the candidate who garners most votes would be elected by the parliament as a new president.
The initiative also includes the possibility of electing the Maronite candidate who has the majority of representation at the parliament, while the fourth is staging the parliamentary elections ahead of the presidential polls based on a new electoral law that provides equality between Christians and Muslims.
Asked about the FPM's objection to extend the terms of high-ranking security officials, Aoun lamented that “presidential vacuum shouldn't impede other Constitutional deadlines.”
“The appointment of an Army chief in absence of a head of state... doesn't insult Christians nor the role of the absent president as long as the will of Christian political powers is respected.”
He stressed that the FPM “agrees on resolving the appointments controversy in one batch.”
FPM chief Aoun has allegedly been seeking to receive political consensus on the appointment of Commando Regiment chief Brig. Gen. Chamel Roukoz, Aoun's son-in-law, as army chief as part of a package for the appointment of other top security officers, but Aoun scrapped such reports.
Roukoz's tenure ends in October while the term of army commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji expires at the end of September.
The military posts in Lebanon are suffering as the result of the months-long presidential vacuum in light of the parliament's failure to elect a successor for Michel Suleiman whose tenure ended in May last year. The vacuum also threatens Internal Security Forces as chief Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Basbous is set to retire in June.
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