Aoun: There's Nothing Called Vacuum, Elections are the Alternative to Extension
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun reiterated Tuesday his rejection of the proposed extension of parliament's term, as he noted that Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea's initiative on the parliamentary and presidential polls is not “realistic.”
“It is well-known that we reject extension. However, there are misleading interpretations and the issue is being approached in a wrong manner, as there is nothing called vacuum in the Lebanese state,” said Aoun after the weekly meeting of his Change and Reform parliamentary bloc in Rabieh.
“The alternative to extension is elections and if the polls do not take place on Nov. 20, the parliament will be dissolved but the government stays and would not be considered resigned, according to Article 69 of the Lebanese Constitution,” he pointed out.
Aoun also said that Article 74 of the Constitution “stipulates that should the presidential seat become vacant for one reason or another and the parliament is dissolved, the government should call immediate elections and the polls must take place.”
He underlined that no one should “claim that there will be vacuum if the extension does not happen.”
“They are speaking of the National Pact, the Constitution and the National Reconciliation Accord. The electoral law should respect equal Christian-Muslim power-sharing and the Constitution stipulates respect for coexistence, which can only be secured through justice among the Lebanese,” Aoun stressed.
He lamented that equal power-sharing “is not being respected in the parliament.”
“There is no effectiveness in this legislature because there is no partnership and they are refusing to correct the mistakes,” added Aoun.
“We cannot extend the term of a parliament that lost its credibility in regard to the drafting of a new electoral law,” Aoun underscored.
He noted that “violating the Constitution” is the biggest blow to equal-power sharing, “not the boycott of some MPs.”
The Orthodox Gathering law, under which each sect would elect its own MPs, “is the only law that can ensure fairness among the sects and it is not true that the elections will lead to the same divisions, because a new law will be adopted,” Aoun added.
Stressing that the parliamentary polls must be held, the FPM leader pointed out that the Lebanese “have drawn lessons and they will change some things, even if the electoral law remained the same.”
“How can we trust a majority that does not honor its promises and does not respect proper Christian representation? How can balance be ensured in the authorities? The same standards must apply to the president, parliament speaker and prime minister or else the process would be aimed at imposing hegemony over others,” Aoun added.
“We are counting on the Constitution and on the people, who are the real authority, and this is what we tried to do in the presidential vote,” he said, referring to his recent controversial proposal on the direct election of a president by the people.
Aoun warned that “after extending the parliament's term, the majority wants to control and manipulate everything and they want to elect a president without resorting to the people.”
“This is what makes us reject extension,” he said.
Aoun added that nothing can guarantee that a president will be elected during the proposed extension period.
“Is there a guarantee that we won't fall in the same dilemma? This majority has not respected the electoral law or the presidential elections,” he stated.
He noted that Lebanon “cannot bear for another 31 months a government that has failed to resolve the refugee crisis, to appoint a new army command or to approve funds.”
“The country's interests are being delayed and some ministers are exceeding their jurisdiction and violating norms, that's why we're against extension,” the FPM leader said.
Asked whether his bloc will attend Wednesday's parliamentary session during which extension is expected to be adopted, Aoun said: “We will announce our decision tomorrow.”
“I do not reject Geagea's initiative but I will respond to him when he turns it into something realistic,” Aoun added, in response to another question.
Earlier on Tuesday, Geagea renewed his opposition to the extension of parliament's term, while accusing the government and Change and Reform bloc of adopting double standards in this issue.
He said during a press conference: “We can avoid the extension by heading to parliament and electing a president on Wednesday instead of voting for the renewal of its term.”
He accused the bloc of seeking to create vacuum in Lebanon in order to alter the Lebanese political system.
Last year, the parliament extended its term until November 2014 after the MPs failed to agree on a new law and claimed the security situation did not guarantee violence-free elections. A similar extension is set to take place on Wednesday to avoid a further vacuum.
The Baabda Palace has been vacant since the expiry of President Michel Suleiman's term in May. The rival MPs have failed to elect a new head of state over their differences on a compromise candidate.
The majority of the March 8 camp's lawmakers have boycotted the sessions, insisting that there should be consensus on a candidate first.
But their boycott has also been seen as a sign of their rejection of Geagea's candidacy, which was officially endorsed by the March 14 forces before the coalition suggested agreeing on a compromise nominee.
Y.R.
over 9 years
Any Christian following a traitor, is a traitor.
over 9 years
Absolutely true.
over 9 years
According to Aoun he rejected and rejects the Taef constitution because it took away from the President's executive powers and gave them to the government instead. Now he is using an article from the same accord to justify his obstruction of the elections by saying the government can act as a President and call upon elections. LOL
over 9 years
is this in any way related to this article?
over 9 years
if ever he is true to his words: let him and his MPS resign!
over 9 years
That would be the followers of Geagea.
over 9 years
equality between all sects is the only justice
god bless democracy
over 9 years
Aoun on Geagea's initiative: When we extended the parliament's term (in 2013), the country had a president, so why didn't we hold the parliamentary elections?
General you continue to deliver knockout punches.
God bless the general of generals!
FPM the only true Lebanese party!
over 9 years
If it was true, but unfortunately for you its your lies that allows you to dream of a punch let alone a knockout.
return with some facts or keep punches in your dreams
over 9 years
Remove a convicted murderer from the list of possible candidates & see if anyone boycotts Pres elections...better still allow the people to vote..or is that not an option for you democratic lovers?
over 9 years
SHN is not a Christian nor does he care if Christians elect a Pres, just as Hariri, Jumblat don;t care....get it neutral m11 aks nikjames aka tex.
over 9 years
We know Christians don't vote for Pres by themselves...But the idiot who simply cannot understand what people post is you.
I clearly said SHN, Hariri, Jumblat etc couldnt care less is no Pres is elected....learn to understand what you debating before you continue making a real tool of yourself daily
over 9 years
lol......just lol.......lol
over 9 years
once again your right..Aoun got less than any M14 Christian.
You always tell it as it is....facts is your middle name.
lmfao
over 9 years
I give you facts, yet comeback with your own version of events based on logic? oh we see.....LMFAO
over 9 years
Ok Geagea lover , oops I meant neutral m11, tex, james, peace.
over 9 years
that's right james the people don;t matter..they are disregarded & thats how you guys like it.
over 9 years
If someone didn't sabotage the agreed upon law at the last minute all was well...can you guess who that person is james?
over 9 years
He served Lebanon by boycotting a convicted murderer being allowed to run for Pres...but you seem to like the idea of a convicted murderer running for Pres
over 9 years
Well M11er, if M14 continues with that attitude, then there will be extension for quite some time.
over 9 years
Thats a no brain er , I thought someone with your extended guessing capabilities would of shot that down without blinking...
oh well lol
over 9 years
Go to Parliament to do what? allow convicted murderers & thieves to run the country? no thanks
over 9 years
هكذا يضربون حيدر في الضاحية : احترمونا لنحترمكم (بالصور
http://www.annahar.com/article/186541-هكذا-يضربون-حيدر-في-الضاحية--احترمونا-لنحترمكم-بالصور
over 9 years
“It is well-known that we reject extension.........
Liar, he is attending the session to facilitate the Parliament extension.
He boycotted Parliament sessions to elect President because he is paid by Iran to play the game with HA.
He has been a part of every Government, yet he criticizes every Government.
over 9 years
Thanks heavens, Tuesday is over, another 7 blissful days without the old man's ranting. Now give him his paycheck if you please.
over 9 years
Aoun: The alternative to extension is elections and if the polls do not take place on Nov. 20, the parliament will be dissolved but the government stays and would not be considered resigned, according to Article 69 of the Lebanese Constitution.
That is absolute heresy. The government is the executive branch and is accountable to the legislative branch for checks and balances. That is the cornerstone of democracy. The parliament gives the government a vote of confidence as well as a vote of no confidence once it deviates from the norm. The government is automatically resigned when parliamentary elections are called for and it is rendered as caretaker ONLY.
Any Christian following a traitor, is a traitor.