Aoun: I Won't Defend Govt. against Mustaqbal Bid to Oust It
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun on Tuesday announced that he would not “defend” Premier Najib Miqati’s government if the rival Mustaqbal Movement sought to topple it in the near future.
Asked about the views he shares with Miqati during an interview on his movement’s mouthpiece OTV, Aoun said: “We agree with PM Miqati that Lebanon’s security is interlinked with that of Syria. We will see if the Mustaqbal Movement will call for toppling the government, but we will not defend it.”
“We will hold the thieves accountable, crimes have been committed. My conscience surpasses the political alliance. I was commissioned by the people and I’m defending people’s money,” he added.
Turning to the controversial issue of the U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon, Aoun said: “Why would we put the entire (2012 state) budget on hold for the sake of the tribunal’s funds which are worth $30 million?”
“There is bad performance in cabinet and I don’t know why everything is stalled. The taxation system is wrong and comprehensive plans for everything, such as health and other issues, have been all shelved. I’m not a beggar, these are the people’s rights,” Aoun went on to say.
“How can (U.N. chief) Mr. Ban Ki-moon convince me that world peace is threatened because of the crimes that happened in Lebanon?” he wondered.
Slamming the United Nations, Aoun said “throughout 63 years, we have not heard any outcry from the U.N. concerning the Palestinian people and its plight,”
“Should human rights exist only in Syria?” he asked.
“The tribunal is 6-year-old, so why don’t we wait for another six months to settle its constitutional status?”
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