Aoun Hints He Won't Nominate Miqati, Slams Jumblat as Mentally Unstable
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun on Tuesday launched a vehement verbal attack on Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat and hinted that he will not renominate Najib Miqati for the premiership.
“Jumblat is mentally unstable and he is trying to punish us because we backed the Orthodox Gathering (electoral) law,” said Aoun during an interview on his movement's mouthpiece OTV.
“There is collective impotence in this state which is built upon a mafia-like structure and those who robbed and embezzled are fighting us now,” Aoun added.
“I tell Walid Jumblat, 'where would you go if I opened the case of the Ministry of the Displaced?'” Aoun went on to say.
Sharp differences have surfaced between Aoun and Jumblat over the energy and telecommunication portfolios in the next cabinet.
“The FPM will not be granted the energy and telecommunications portfolios... It's impossible and will not happen again,” As Safir newspaper quoted Jumblat as saying.
Aoun hit back during the TV interview, noting that “52 major global oil firms came to Lebanon and in three years we managed to pass the executive laws and decrees and we conducted the (oil and gas) survey.”
“I want to ask Walid Jumblat, 'what have you done since joining the cabinet in May 1984? What are your accomplishments?'” Aoun said.
He charged that Jumblat “does not want the proper representation and coexistence stipulated by the constitution.”
“When a sect appropriates the rights of another sect, how can there be coexistence? Coexistence can only be preserved through justice and equality,” Aoun stressed.
He noted that a parliamentary session to vote on the controversial Orthodox Gathering proposal -- under which each sect elects its own representatives -- “would be legitimate even if al-Mustaqbal (movement) and the PSP boycotted it.”
“If I filed a lawsuit against someone who stole my rights and he didn't show up, I cannot say that the trial is illegitimate. There are non-negotiable rights,” Aoun explained.
“If the Orthodox law was not approved, I would consider that we are living under a dictatorial authority and going through a phase of degeneration in state institutions. Those who abandon the Orthodox Gathering law will be cursed by history,” Aoun added.
Commenting on Miqati's resignation, Aoun said: “We have reached a point where laws have become totally disregarded by officials, including Miqati, who tried to manipulate the laws by seeking to extend (Internal Security Forces chief Ashraf) Rifi's term.”
“Several crimes happened during Rifi's tenure and none was solved, but legally speaking, the extension was an issue to be decided by the entire cabinet and there is no applicable law, which requires resorting to the Shura Council, not to the parliament,” Aoun added.
“When Miqati decided that Rifi is more important than the government, he toppled it, because there are severe situations that he didn't want to be held responsible for,” he said.
“I don't know why the president (Michel Suleiman) and the premier want to maintain the vacuum. I don't have contacts with them now and I was relieved by the government's resignation as it wasn't very satisfying,” Aoun added.
He stressed that legislation must serve the public interest, “not the interests of individuals, and the attempt to extend Rifi's term was a coup attempt.”
Aoun revealed that his bloc has not nominated anyone for the premiership until the moment.
“We have not nominated anyone for the premiership and there are conditions and counter-conditions. I demand fairness and each party must be represented according to its political weight,” he added.
“When you put numerous preconditions, that means that you don't want elections. We have not reached a common viewpoint with our allies concerning the candidate for the premiership and meetings will be held in the next 24 hours,” Aoun went on to say.
“I've heard that Miqati is putting conditions and I don't accept conditions, but rather principles upon which the government must be formed,” he stressed.
The FPM leader asked rhetorically: “How can we name Miqati again after he resigned over two demands and he now has five conditions to return to the premiership?”
Source: Naharnet
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://naharnet.com/stories/en/78011 |