Henri Helou: Aoun's Initiative Lacks Most Basic Principles of Democracy

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Democratic Gathering MP and presidential candidate Henri Helou criticized Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun's initiative aimed at ending the presidential deadlock, saying that it basically calls for eliminating the other, reported the Kuwaiti daily al-Anba on Sunday.

He told the daily: “His initiative lacks the most basic principles of democracy.”

“The MP sought to remove blame directed against him for obstructing the presidential elections,” he noted.

“He therefore sought to uproot democratic practices instead of bolstering them through his and his bloc's attendance of presidential election sessions,” he added.

“A strong presidential candidate does not seek to eliminate other nominees,” said Helou.

“Aoun's initiative was born dead seeing as it was rejected by all political blocs without exception,” he stressed.

The Democratic Gathering of MP Walid Jumblat will not abandon Helou's nomination, especially since he is viewed as centrist candidate, added the MP.

Aoun has not officially announced his candidacy for the elections.

The third candidate is Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea, who was endorsed by the March 14 alliance.

“Aoun's initiative is simply an individual proposal that cannot be implemented in democratic systems,” continued Helou.

Moreover, he said that the Democratic Gathering was the first bloc to demand that the political powers agree on a compromise candidate in order to end the presidential vacuum.

“The initiative fell on deaf ears however given the regional developments,” remarked Helou.

He hoped that the local powers would avoid exposing the presidential elections to foreign meddling and instead keep it a Lebanese affair.

Lebanon has been without a president since May when the term of Michel Suleiman ended.

Disputes between the March 8 and 14 camps over a compromise candidate has led to the vacuum.

Aoun's proposal lies in allowing only Christians to vote for their candidates in the first round that would pave way for both Muslims and Christians to choose the two candidates who received the majority of votes in the first round.

He recently suggested limiting the presidential race between him and Geagea.

M.T.

Comments 24
Thumb galaxy over 9 years

Aoun is not someone who understands, believes in, or practices democracy.

Thumb nickjames over 9 years

“The MP sought to remove blame directed against him for obstructing the presidential elections,” he noted.

--Say what you want about this guy because I don't even know what his views are (other than he's a Jumblatteh) but this quote is miyyeh bel miyyeh. Aoun has given a handful of different reasons for boycotting (mainly blaming Geagea) but now Aoun is saying it should be only him versus Geagea and Helou is obstructing the elections. Aoun is a treacherous senile lunatic who contradicts himself left and right, and any Lebanese who believes him is so naive (that's me being nice) and follows him blindly because he was a general of the LAF 25 years ago and ignores that everything he's doing today contradicts what he stood for in the past.

Missing peace over 9 years

and why should he be prevented to run? because aoun says so? because aoun is the master of Lebanon?
everyone can present his candidature as the MPs elect their prefered candidate... so aoun should SHUT UP and abide by the laws of democracy and you too ...

if aoun is sooo sure to win then he should not fear any candidature or maybe he is afraid ....

Thumb freedomarch over 9 years

Peace: did you notice nickjames hitting a nerve ,,, Flamy seems too irritated,,

Missing beirutbastard00 over 9 years

U guys r idiots!!! Anyone that the Christians back will b a strong president! It doesn't need aoun n ga3ga3. Being controversial is not the same as being a strong candidate! Plz wake up already. Unite n back a clean, honest guy, and the Christians are back in their rightful position in this country!

Thumb freedomarch over 9 years

To The Rear:As you know a president voted by people should have all the powers exclusively since he took his powers directly from citizens. If one sect have the rights to get a "supreme" president other sects would object or at least want presidency open to all, then you can vote directly. Still this will not work since most of us are forced to immigrate because one "protected" sect have weapons and can keep on terrorizing other Lebanese by their work, life and safety to leave.

Missing coolmec over 9 years

The roar
I don't know how you can possibly think believe and say that Aoun has made every possible effort to have a strong president. He has been obstructing the democratic process pushing the country to the abyss for personal gains and to be elected president at any cost. Well he is nothing but a traitor and a lunatic please tell him he will never be president

Missing peace over 9 years

whoever wants to run could have the right be it a "nobody"... but refusing a "nobody" to run only shows FPMers obtuse narrow minded way of thinking...

is it up to aoun to choose who shall be candidate? no... aoun should run for president of syria as totalitarian regimes suit him better and you should follow....

the sole purpose of aouns whims are that he just want to stall the country as dictated to him by hezbis... he is just a puppet, that is FPM's definition of "strong" president: a president at the orders of hezbollah and syria...

oh! and before you bark that geagea is a murderer and that i support him, i do not... both of them should resign and let the candidature to new blood if their true worry was the sake of Lebanon... i am not a fanatic like you, clinging to the boots of an idol....

Thumb the_roar over 9 years

wonderful that you support whomever wants to run, peace.

so why not allow the people to vote directly for whoever decides to nominate him/herself?

why are you & m14 so against the vote of the people & allowing whoever to run for Pres instead of having Murderers imposed on the people?

Missing peace over 9 years

"why are you & m14 so against the vote of the people & allowing whoever to run for Pres instead of having Murderers imposed on the people?"

sure aoun and geagea are both murderers.... but you seem to back aoun so why not geagea too? LOL

Thumb the_roar over 9 years

If you want to put a convicted murderer on the same scale as the general of the Lebanese army, then enough said.

but the issue is why are you afraid of the people voting?

Missing coolmec over 9 years

@the roar
what has he obstructed? OMG don't you realize he has been blocking the presidential election in the hope he will become president? That is so obvious. It addends me to realize you don't even see that. what is it with you guys you blindly support a lunatic for president while you ignore the better qualified citizens.

you have got to make a belter choice for president May I suggest Damianos Khattar or Ziad Baroud for example both are far more qualified than Aoun or any other candidate for that matter

Thumb the_roar over 9 years

You speak the language of ignorant bliss, coolmec,

when you allow the people to vote then people like Ziad can run, until then, only those nominated from outside of Lebanon can run.

why? to weaken Lebanon as usual...that's why you have a convicted murderer as a candidate as you know.

stop playing the ignorant game & start supporting Lebanese choose their own Pres, whoever it may be.

Missing peace over 9 years

"The day you fools stop thinking as sects is the day you will move forward."

then go and say that to aoun who pretend to be the defender of christians in lebanon and in the middle east...
go and say that to nasrallah who will sure be ready to stop ruling a religious party...
go and say that to jumblatt who cares only for the druze... go and say that to every leader who are just in power in the name of a sect...

go and say that to the religous leaders and i am sure they will agree to let down their privileges and that every Citizen be ruled by secular laws not religious ones from which the religious leaders make their money and get their power...

the day you ll succeed then it would be time to elect a president directly from the people not afraid or influenced by the sect they belong to....

Missing peace over 9 years

but it dosent believe the people have a right to vote for that person like aoun proposed the presidency to be held by popular vote

hey ya zaki:

read what i wrote and you ll see that what your loser aoun proposed is pure populism in the present lebanese society... but of course aoun said so, so he is the voice of truth...
i bet that if saad hariri is elected president you would accept it then
pityful you...

Thumb geha over 9 years

as per the constitution, any Maronite has the right to become president elect.
so, who is aoun to demand that presidential elections be restricted to two persons only?

Missing coolmec over 9 years

@the roar
May I add that I am neither M8 or M14 and I do not support Geagea for President. We have better citizens who deserve to be [resident

Thumb the_roar over 9 years

You're against the Lebanese choosing their own Pres, but you support neither M8 or M14...hmm ok if you say so

Thumb geha over 9 years

I am backing no one, and I call for respecting the constitution as it is without any changes to suit any one candidate :)
but I know it is too difficult to people like FT to comprehend that simple concept.

Missing greatpierro over 9 years

There us a fundamental law in Lebanon je a constitution and aoun cannot just do what he pleases about it. Aoun can neither eliminate a candidate nor decide to change the constitution as he sees it fit.

Default-user-icon 1,2,3,4.. (Guest) over 9 years

Look the takfiris wanting to shut Helou up, his crime saying something they disagree with.

Thumb nickjames over 9 years

Flamey stfu you contradict yourself just like Aoun. First you complain that M14 isn't offering a candidate besides a criminal, then you go on to say that there are two representatives of the Christians including Geagea. All you do is repeat what Aoun says when he changes his stance everyday. Let's review this boycott of Aoun's:

First: if M14 supports Geagea then I won't be a candidate
Second: We need a strong consensual candidate, and I meet those requirements
Third: we need to amend the constitution and let the people decide
Fourth: I never proposed an amendment because it'd be a coup against Ta'ef thus I'm incapable of proposing one
Fifth: I won't discuss another candidate
Now: it should only be me vs. Geagea

Thumb nickjames over 9 years

And stfu about this letting the people vote and being a beacon of democracy. His stupid law disenfranchises Muslims because they have no say in who the candidates are. Democracy means everyone gets to vote, and also Aoun supports the Orthodox law which is based on voting by sect so spare me

Default-user-icon keairst (Guest) over 9 years

Henri Helou was nominated by Walid Jumblat, Michel Aoun was nominated by Hassan Nasrallah. It seems the only truly independent Christian leader is the one who nominated himself and his allies then followed.