Change and Reform Rejects 'Bloodshed Threats', Says Aoun to Keep Mum till Franjieh Clarifies Picture
The Change and Reform parliamentary bloc stressed Tuesday that it refuses to be “intimidated” into electing a president through “bloodshed threats,” noting that its chief MP Michel Aoun will remain silent until Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh “clarifies the picture” of his sudden presidential nomination.
“Our political camp must address all the developments collectively, regardless of how they can be described,” said the bloc in a statement recited by ex-minister Salim Jreissati after its weekly meeting in Rabieh.
Noting that Franjieh has announced that Aoun remains the bloc's official presidential candidate, Change and Reform hoped the current momentum in the country will lead to the election of a president.
It added however that Aoun will deal with “the source (Franjieh) and not the sources,” in reference to the flurry of media reports about Franjieh's nomination.
“Genral Aoun will maintain his silence until the picture is clarified, especially from the candidate -- and the bloc's member – Franjieh,” the bloc said.
Commenting on recent warnings about failure to elect a president in the coming days, Change and Reform asserted that “intimidation cannot immunize or encourage the election of any presidential candidate.”
“The election of a president should be the result of a calm constitutional and democratic course,” it added.
The bloc noted that the Lebanese are being faced by “three types of intimidation.”
“Intimidation with bloodshed means that any president whom they do not prefer will be elected through bloodshed and these remarks are unacceptable,” Change and Reform said.
It was referring to a statement on Saturday by al-Mustaqbal movement secretary general Ahmed Hariri, who warned that “the president will be elected through bloodshed if the current initiative fails.”
A Paris meeting last month between Franjieh and al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri was behind launching the current momentum in the country regarding the presidential elections.
Change and Reform noted Tuesday that some parties are also using “financial intimidation.”
“Financial intimidation takes us back to the year 1992. The same camp that used it back then is now thinking that it can repeat it,” it said.
“The third type of intimidation is the suggestion that if the so-called 'opportunity president' is not elected, no other president will be elected later, and this intimidation is targeted against the National Pact and the Taef Accord, which we have all endorsed as our constitution,” the bloc went on to say.
Y.R.
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