Aoun Demands Tribunal to Investigate Financial Violations, Says Delaying Vote on Orthodox Draft 'Crime against Lebanon'
Change and Reform parliamentary bloc leader MP Michel Aoun expressed on Tuesday that any delay in approving the Orthodox Gathering's draft electoral law is a "crime against the country", calling for the formation of a special court to investigate financial violations committed in Lebanon.
"Whoever delays the approval of the Orthodox Gathering law would be allowing vacuum to take place and committing a crime against the country,” Aoun stated after the bloc's weekly meeting, adding that constitutional deadlines must be respected.
Speaker Nabih Berri has not yet called the lawmakers for a parliamentary session to vote on the Orthodox Gathering's draft electoral law, awaiting a consensus by the different factions over another proposal.
He remarked: "Not adopting the Orthodox draft and not reaching consensus over an electoral law will lead to vacuum”.
“Some factions want an elections based on the 1960's law”.
President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Miqati had signed the decree calling on the electoral bodies to hold the elections on June 9, drawing criticism from several March 8 figures.
Both statesmen expressed that their step stems from their “constitutional duty”, regardless of their stance towards the 1960's law.
The Orthodox proposal, which considers Lebanon a single electoral district and allows each sect to vote for its own MPs under a proportional representation system, was rejected by Suleiman, Miqati, Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat, al-Mustaqbal bloc and the March 14 opposition's Christian independent lawmakers.
Separately, Aoun called for the formation of a “special tribunal that, regardless of its size, would look into financial issues in order to draw an end to violations”.
"Those who have abused the state's treasury must must be questioned and tried,” he confirmed.
Commenting on the flow of Syrian refugees from the war-torn neighboring country, the Kesrouan MP questioned security leaders and concerned authorities over measures taken in the light of the “uncontrolled and increased foreign presence on Lebanese territories”.
"Lebanese people are worried,” he said, adding that the flow of refugees must be controlled and limited to those in “urgent need of healthcare”.
“Countries that are arming fighters must be the first to host Syrians, and their financial situations allow them to bear the cost of taking care of refugees”.
Source: Naharnet
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