Bassil Says More FPM Members May be Expelled if 'Bylaws' Violated

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil warned Monday that more FPM members might be suspended if they violate the movement's bylaws, three days after the expulsion of four prominent FPM officials.

“The issue of our suspended comrades may be repeated, because whoever commits to a political party must know its bylaws and their future in it would be determined accordingly, regardless of their history,” said Bassil at a press conference summarizing the outcome of the vote that the FPM held on Sunday to choose its candidates for the parliamentary polls.

“It turned out that the number of dissidents is very small and we won't remain silent over those who insult the FPM from within its ranks. I call on those who want to carry on with this approach to resign,” he added.

“Those who voted in this coup-like approach do not exceed 1%, or less than 200 votes,” Bassil said.

Noting that the internal polls “have proved that the FPM can embrace everyone,” the FPM chief said all members enjoyed equal opportunities “except for those who remained out due to their non-commitment.”

“Political alliances are not something for the candidates to decide, but rather for the leadership, and the candidate should abide by the decision that serves the FPM's interest in order to win,” Bassil added, referring to municipal and parliamentary elections.

“The FPM is bigger than us all and no one will be able to defeat it. Whoever challenges us will be defeated, seeing us we are defeating external rivals and we will defeat those who try to undermine the FPM internally,” Bassil vowed.

The internal polls were held two days after the FPM expelled the prominent members Ziad Abs, Naim Aoun, Antoine Nasrallah and Paul Abi Haidar on charges of committing what it called “repeated public and blatant violations that contradict with the simplest rules of organizational discipline despite repeated warnings."

In a statement, the FPM also warned all members against “tackling the movement's internal affairs in the media and on social networking websites.”

In remarks to LBCI TV on Friday, Ziad Abs, a prominent FPM official in Beirut's Ashrafieh area, said that his latest televised appearances were the reason behind his expulsion.

Media reports had said in May that the FPM leadership was studying the possibility of expelling some 20 members, including Abs, for “rebelling against movement decisions.”

The dispute had first erupted over Abs' opposition to the FPM's alliance in Beirut's municipal elections with al-Mustaqbal Movement. The dispute pitted him against former FPM minister Nicolas Sehnaoui.

Abs was reportedly not consulted over the alliance.