Aoun Says to Take Part in Dialogue if Topic is Electoral Law
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun on Tuesday announced that he will take part in national dialogue only if it will tackle the thorny issue of the electoral law.
“We want the electoral law to come first and we would discuss the government after that. The government is not as important as the constitutional junctures that have certain deadlines,” said Aoun after the weekly meeting of the Change and Reform bloc in Rabiyeh.
“I will take a stance on dialogue when I know its topic. I will take part in dialogue if the topic is the electoral law,” said Aoun.
He said the bloc discussed the possibility of maintaining legislation amid the presence of a resigned cabinet and “everyone agreed that the government's status does not prevent legislating.”
Commenting on the collapse of Prime Minister Najib Miqati's government, in which the bloc had 10 ministers, Aoun said: “I've been hearing the question whether the FPM is the biggest loser (from the cabinet's resignation), but I say that our stance is much more important than the number of ministers and we had sacrificed the presidency position for our principles. We are not after the number of ministers but rather after quality.”
Aoun stressed that the Orthodox Gathering draft law, under which each sect would elects its own MPs, is “the only legitimate proposal,” urging all Christian parties to “approve it because it ensures the proper representation stipulated by the Taef Accord.”
“When three candidates receive 65% of Christian votes in Akkar and fail to make it to parliament, that means that the representation is incorrect,” Aoun noted.
“We thank PM Miqati who gave government everything in his capacity and we hope we will meet him again after the elections,” said Aoun.
He noted that “there are successful and unsuccessful experiences in the premiership and it is important for the new premier not to repeat the unsuccessful experiences.”
Answering a reporter's question, Aoun said: “We have not taken the decision not to name Miqati, but it seems that he wants to rest.”
He said he has not yet discussed the issue of the upcoming parliamentary session with Speaker Nabih Berri.
“As long as there are laws and there is a democratic game, it must take its course if it doesn't contradict with the constitution,” said Aoun.
Asked about Bahij Tabbara and Adnan Kassar as possible candidates for the premiership, Aoun said: “Things are awaiting a settlement.”
He noted that the situation is now calmer in Lebanon “due to the absence of the government and we are not witnessing attacks by journalists.”
Asked about the Syrian crisis, Aoun said: “I heard acceptable remarks from (Syrian opposition chief) Moaz al-Khatib and his speech (at the Arab Summit) was good."
"It is okay to negotiate according to his speech which called for an end to fighting," said Aoun.
"From the very beginning, we said that the Lebanese gathered around the dialogue table and we advised them (the Syrians) to take our experience into consideration. I hope God will guide them and they will resort to dialogue," Aoun added.
Source: Naharnet
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