'Friendly' Meeting between Aoun, LF Delegates as Both Parties Agree to Attend Wednesday's Parliament Session
A Lebanese Forces delegation met with Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun on Saturday afternoon, and handed him over a copy of the LF leader's presidential program.
The delegation included MPs Sethrida Geagea, Joseph al-Maalouf, Fadi Karam, former minister Toni Karam and member of the party's Executive Committee Eddy Abi al-Lamaa.
MTV provided late on Saturday details on the “friendly” meeting between Aoun and the LF delegates.
It reported that the talks started with MP Geagea handing over the presidential program to Aoun, with a greeting from LF leader Samir Geagea.
"We hope that you would support his candidacy,” Sethrida Geagea told Aoun, who responded with a smile, according to MTV.
The FPM leader told Geagea that the final decision on whether he will run for office or not will be announced on Tuesday, after his Change and Reform bloc's weekly meeting.
"My presidential program is focused only on securing stability,” Aoun remarked.
The meeting ended with both parties agreeing on attending Wednesday's parliamentary session, and on supporting a “strong candidate who has a clear program.”
MP Geagea assured Aoun that the LF will be “the first to congratulate him if he wins in the presidential race, and that the party will stand by whomever becomes president.”
"I will also be the first to congratulate Geagea if he takes office,” Aoun responded, according to the same source.
LF officials have been holding talks with different parties and leaders in the country to hand them over LF leader Geagea's presidential program, and to discuss the upcoming elections.
LF sources told MTV on Friday that a meeting with Hizbullah officials will be requested for the same purpose as well.
"We will request an appointment to meet with Hizbullah officials as well but we are not sure they will be responsive. But we are going to do what we have to do," the sources said.
MTV said on Saturday that LF MP George Adwan is the person tasked with contacting Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal party over this matter.
On Wednesday, Geagea announced a presidential program that focused on “restoring the authority of the state against the proliferation of weapons during a time of regional unrest.”
The LF chief also called for a state monopoly on the use of force, including confronting Israel.
He is the sole politician to have officially announced his candidacy for the polls, which are first scheduled to be held on April 23.
Speaker Nabih Berri called on MPs to meet next Wednesday, although the election is not expected to be an easy process amid a lack of agreement on a consensual candidate.
President Michel Suleiman's six-year tenure ends on May 25.
S.D.B.
almost 10 years
I just don't understand why we do not adopt change and allow the new blood i.e. the new generation to replace our antiquated corrupt leaders. They all have blood on their hands. Let the new blood blossom and take over
almost 10 years
as much as your beloved allies and leader are! LOL
almost 10 years
says the one who keeps doing so! LOL
almost 10 years
you cannot debate with them as they are sure they have a divine power!
almost 10 years
free-christian Seriously?
"You all Hakim's haters know nothing about this man and how much he sacrificed."
This man sacrificed many innocent civilians in the civil war and should have been condemned to death for his crimes against humanity.
almost 10 years
"My presidential program is focused only on securing stability,” Aoun remarked.
Aoun is saying this because he has NO program. Actually, he and his aides don't even have the slightest idea how to have a presidential program. They don't know how democracy works. They are just like their Iranian masters. They want to place a president and not elect a president.
GEAGEA FOR PRESIDENT!!
almost 10 years
Where is Bachir now. You are right Bachir was only sold and bought by the Jews.
almost 10 years
What a joke .
almost 10 years
Hey samy reading the above comment ,the only filthy person here is you .
almost 10 years
anonymetexasusa all i am saying is you were referring to him/her in such a way which shows your blatant disrespect not just for him/her but all who feel insulted by that name. maybe he is not Shia like he/she says and does not want to be referred to as Ali or Irani. i believe he/she is christian and just because josephani does not agree with you politically does not mean he/she is Shia. My point is show some respect to other on this website. you don't have to belittle people and insult them by calling them sectarian oriented and insulting name. i have read how you and other refer to people as villager, jafar, hussein and other names. It is repulsive and disgusting the way some of you belittle the Shia on here.
almost 10 years
lets meet up samy if you so tough
almost 10 years
It is a pleasant sight to see these two Christian representatives acting in a civil and respectful manner. It is as equally disappointing that on this most special day in our calendar we cannot bring ourselves to do the same. My greatest hope is for these two men regardless of their past opinions stand together united for the greater Christian and Lebanese good. Both agreeing to attend parliament is a start. Hopefully Aoun who may now appear to be M8 second preference and Geagea who could give way to a more moderate for the elections stand united in their support for each other or someone else that is strong enough and Lebanese enough to guid us through these difficult times. Happy Easter to all. God bless
almost 10 years
samy the fake christian and Sunni extremist
almost 10 years
samy get a life ya spineless parasite.
almost 10 years
I am not LF but do not believe they support KSA, nor Israel. They may have allied with Israel for a period but others have allied with other external parties/countries in order to kill other Lebanese. I truly believe LF wants to preserve a Christian presence in Lebanon. I just don't think Hakim is the right man for President.
almost 10 years
Hello everyone and Happy Easter to you all
I read the above comments specifically Samy and skizo
My god why so much hatred and foul language? you guys are pathetic. You guys should try to state your views and read other people's views with respect and dignity. No need for insults come guys grow up!!
almost 10 years
phoenix and wolf are one and the same :)
same language :)
almost 10 years
phoenix and wolf are one and the same :)
they have the same language :)
almost 10 years
ok get your hez to buy him like they bought aoun. have any of you haters been to prison?
almost 10 years
he paid his dues in prison. btw your toxic waste propaganda is not changing anyone's mind
almost 10 years
Yes, the LF allied itself with Israel in the 70s and 80s. In the context of the political and military environment at the time, it was the right decision. It's nothing to be ashamed of, quite the contrary. Israeli armament and training played a key role in preventing the Christian heartland from being overrun by an Arabist coalition with very large numerical superiority.
We were doing fine until Bashir was assassinated. Then came an unstable LF leadership structure, and the culmination was Geagea and Aoun going at each other's necks. No one, brought the Christians to their knees more than Geagea ans Aoun. They BOTH prioritzed their respective political positions over the interest of their people, the Christians.
almost 10 years
We were free from the PLO, the Syrians, the Mourabitoun and the whole sorry gangs of Libyans and Somalis and whatever riffraff they dragged in their wake. They couldn't break through our lines. Yes, our towns are villages were in ruins, but we were free, united and proud.
almost 10 years
National priorities today by all means! But 30 years ago we felt that Christianity was under a mortal threat and acted accordingly. That was then; today my priorities are national.
almost 10 years
And oh:
Al Masih Qam!
Southern
Conviction is one thing and being bought is another. I do not think that Geagea and KSA have similar convictions but he as well as other Lebanese politicians have one common goal ehich is money and KSA has plenty of it....lol