Jumblat: Christians Must Realize Difficulty of Aoun or Geagea's Election as President
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat stressed the need for the election of a president who is “not provocative” to another political camp, reported al-Mustaqbal newspaper on Monday.
He told the daily: “Christians must realize the difficulty of Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun or Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea's election as president.”
“They should reach an agreement over the nomination of an acceptable candidate who will not provoke others,” he explained.
“I was clear in my call on Aoun and Geagea to withdraw their candidacies in order to launch a search for a consensual presidential candidate,” Jumblat added.
Furthermore, he noted that even Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi has become aware that the nomination of Aoun and Geagea “will lead to a dead end and prolong the crisis.”
“We must kick off calm dialogue while we can before we reach tenser times that will prevent us from achieving our goals,” said the PSP chief.
“Dialogue is the only way to end the crisis,” he emphasized to al-Mustaqbal.
He also hailed the recent position of Mustaqbal Movement leader MP Saad Hariri, who stressed the need to commit to the Taef Accord, and rejected Aoun's proposal for a constitutional amendment that would allow the people to elect a president.
Hariri delivered a speech on Friday during which he proposed a roadmap that includes the election of a new president, formation of a new cabinet that is similar to the current one, withdrawal of Hizbullah's fighters from Syria, and establishment of a comprehensive plan to combat terrorism.
He also urged against the extension of parliament's term, but remarked that parliamentary polls should take place after electing a new president.
Lebanon has been plunged in vacuum in the presidency since the term of President Michel Suleiman ended in May.
Geagea has announced his candidacy in the elections, while Aoun has said that he will run in the polls if there is consensus over his nomination.
Jumblat's Democratic Gathering had voiced its backing to candidate MP Henri Helou, deeming him a non-provocative figure.
M.T.
H.K.
21 July 2014, 11:01
34
Everybody in the known universe knows this exept Aoun "I or no president ever", butt at 81 he has nothing left to lose. He came back from exile with a Syrian promise, he did everything they expected from him and then some now he expects them or their lackyes to honor their end of the bargain he was slighted and pushed aside in 2009 this time he's determined desperately to collect. Hezballah on the other hand in cherishing the vacuum in what they consider their rightful post.
21 July 2014, 11:09
15
Jomblat there you go again not only contradicting yourself but you are also still on the fence. You do not want a confrontational president yet you support Hariri's call for HA to withdraw from Syria. You want a consensus president who will not be provocative towards either side yet you support the one state vision as opposed to HA autonomous state within a state. You refuse to endorse aoun because of his alignment to HA which is contrary to your values and rhetoric. Yet by the same token you refuse to endorse Geagea who is aligned to Hariri and shares identical views on lebanon and HA not dissimilar to your own. So here you are preaching to the Christians what you feel is best for us but cannot decide yourself what it is you really want. Your used by date is long gone Walid time to put you out to pasture.
21 July 2014, 13:43
40
He is telling the christians to please unite. Possible salvation of lebanin if they do. Not likely to happen as long as jiddo aoun is paid by the ayatollah's of the world.
your statement is very dull and innocuous at best- cant win with multi dimensional hatred.
21 July 2014, 14:25
03
Jumblot knows if the Christians unite then his role in politics is considerably diminished. Hardly likely he wants this for he uses his position holding the balance to his own benefit and is in such a position at the moment yet he preaches solutions that will undermine his strength. Jumblot wants his cake and needs to appear relevant also nothing more nothing less. As for multidimensional hatred, where did you read an insult in my comments genius?
21 July 2014, 12:08
14
So should the Druze, they should realize the difficulty of maintaining Jumblat at the helm..
Mr Jumblat: You are no prize.. Your clan continues to call for Secularism, in Lebanon, whenever it suits your purposes..
21 July 2014, 12:52
34
If the President of Lebanon has to be of a certain religion, why is it right for someone of another faith to interfere in the choice?
21 July 2014, 13:45
21
the president need to be an atheist- no religious affiliation whatsoever- if you can handle that - then we can say you stepping up to the plate to live in the 21st century
21 July 2014, 17:06
00
All persons in high office (or for that matter in any office) should be chosen for their suitability to the task, not their religion.
21 July 2014, 14:11
04
christians understand that u are a hater, christians understand that u are a coward and a traitor to your own father and country, christians realize that u were the dirtiest ennemy during the civil war... and chirtians realise that after u die ties will be better with druze ... without u is always better!
21 July 2014, 15:54
50
Whatever we think of Mr. Jumblat, I think his opinion on this very topic is right on.
21 July 2014, 18:12
30
Flamethrower this is precisely not my point.
First, of course it is his business. It is the business of any Lebanese to give his opinion on this national subject.
Secondly, also meant for the_roar, it is the whole nation via the parliament, that votes not just the Christians for the president.
Third and last, Yes both Aoun and Geagea are confrontational and I equally understand vetoes on them by a part of the assembly.
