Aoun: March 14 Boycotting Parliament to Obstruct Agreement on New Electoral Law
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun accused the March 14-led opposition of seeking to maintain the 1960s parliamentary electoral law for the 2013 elections.
He said in an interview to the FPM's facebook page: “The camp is boycotting parliament because it believes that by doing so, the 1960s law will be adopted in the June elections.”
“This is the height of ignorance because their adventure is a sign of their desperation,” he noted.
He challenged the camp to return to parliament and win the elections through democratic means, “not by force.”
Aoun therefore renewed his commitment to the Orthodox Gathering electoral law and a law based on proportional representation and medium-sized districts.
A real problem in practicing democracy will take place should a new law fail to be adopted, he warned.
The government recently approved an electoral law based on proportional representation and 13 districts.
The opposition and Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat rejected the law, demanding one that offers better representation.
Commenting on the government crisis, Aoun said: “We are certain that some powers are obstructing its activities.”
“We are remaining in government for more important purposes and we are achieving great accomplishments that we will reveal to the public at the right time,” he added.
“We are staying in government in order to maintain stability. Our resignation will create an imbalance in Lebanon,” he remarked.
“Strife is being prepared for Lebanon,” cautioned the FPM leader.
The opposition has been boycotting government-related activities, including parliament sessions and the national dialogue, since the assassination of Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau chief Brigadier General Wissam al-Hasan on October 19.
It accused Syria of being behind the murder and blamed the government, which is comprised of mainly pro-Syria allies, of covering up the crime.
Addressing accusations that Hizbullah is suffering from corruption and has committed constitutional violations, Aoun said: “Those making the accusations should present evidence on the matter.”
“Previous experience has demonstrated that no one from Hizbullah offers political cover for anyone,” he stated.
“Combating corruption must begin from the top person in authority and this corruption is the product of mismanagement of public funds,” he explained.
On former Premier Saad Hariri's efforts, along with MP Oqab Saqr, to release Lebanese held in Syria, Aoun said: “Hariri claims to be a moderate Muslim and I therefore question how he is helping Islamic extremists through his MP Saqr.”
Addressing the growing power of the Muslim Brotherhood in the Middle East, the MP said: “I want to believe that Hariri is the only guarantee for keeping the Brotherhood away from Lebanon, but he, along with his Mustaqbal Movement, are constantly trying to topple the Syrian regime and bring the Brotherhood to power.”
“The Muslim Brotherhood has said that democracy contradicts Sharia law and its final goal is to Islamicize the world, which is evident in the names of some of their groups such as Fatah al-Islam and Jundallah,” he added.
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