Geagea Nominates Aoun as President, Urges March 14 Alliance to Back him

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Timeline
Aoun: On this historic day, I believe we will be able to achieve what we have pledged. 8 years
Aoun: I wish well to all the Lebanese. 8 years
Aoun: Everyone has his place in this nation. 8 years
Aoun: The past should not be forgotten. 8 years
Aoun: We back coexistence between Muslims and Christians and we have never discriminated against anyone. 8 years
Aoun: We should no longer remain attached to the past should we seek to build a future together. 8 years
Aoun: We do not act out of spite with anyone and we have never acted out of spite. 8 years
Aoun: We support all the principles that Geagea had stipulated. 8 years
Aoun: We will not forget what Geagea has presented for Lebanon. 8 years
Geagea: The LF is not acting out of a reflex, but it acts according to its principles. 8 years
Geagea: We demand the adoption of a fair parliamentary electoral law. 8 years
Geagea: I call on independent figures to back Aoun's nomination for president. 8 years
Geagea: All international resolutions should be respected and implemented. 8 years
Geagea: I call on my allies in the March 14 coalition to adopt Aoun's nomination, especially since the aforementioned points coincide with the camp's principles. 8 years
Geagea: We support bolstering state institutions and urge against the use of arms no matter what the insecurities are. 8 years
Geagea: All agreements of the national dialogue should be adopted. 8 years
Geagea: We are committed to the National Pact, as stipulated by the Taif Accord, and empowering the army. 8 years
Geagea: We look forward to political cooperation and honorable competition with the FPM. 8 years
Geagea: The positive progression of ties between the LF and FPM led to this moment. 8 years
Geagea: Aoun's nomination will hopefully lead us to a normal life in Lebanon. 8 years
Geagea: Based on this, I declare, after thorough assessment among the LF, the nomination of MP Michel Aoun as president. 8 years
Geagea: From the start, we have long supported holding the presidential elections on time and in accordance with the constitution. 8 years
Geagea: We were on the verge of collapse so we sought an extraordinary solution, one which was not entertained by others. 8 years
Geagea after talks with Aoun: The vacuum in the presidency has crippled state institutions and almost led to the country's collapse. 8 years

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea announced on Monday his support for his rival Change and Reform bloc chief MP Michel Aoun as president after weeks of speculation.

He declared during a joint press conference with the MP at Maarab: “I declare, after thorough assessment among the LF, the nomination of MP Michel Aoun as president.”

“The LF does not take impulsive or spontaneous decisions, but takes them after deep reflection,” he noted in an indirect reference to Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc chief MP Fouad Saniora.

The MP had earlier on Monday urged officials against taking “rushed stances” on local affairs.

“The state was on the verge of collapse so we sought an extraordinary solution, one which was not entertained by others,” Geagea added to applause among the audience.

“The vacuum in the presidency has crippled state institutions and almost led to the country's collapse,” he noted.

“From the start, we have long supported holding the presidential elections on time and in accordance with the constitution,” said Geagea.

He hoped that Aoun's nomination would lead to normalcy being restored in Lebanon, remarking that the “positive progression” of ties between the LF and Change and Reform bloc led to the adoption of the MP's nomination.

“We look forward to political cooperation and honorable competition with the Free Patriotic Movement,” he stated.

Geagea reiterated the articles of the declaration of intent that was signed between the LF and FPM in 2015.

He stressed the commitment to the National Pact, empowering the Lebanese army, and respecting international resolutions.

“I call on my allies in the March 14 coalition to adopt Aoun's nomination, especially since the aforementioned points coincide with the camp's principles,” said Geagea.

For his part, Aoun voiced his support for the principles that were listed by Geagea.

“We will not forget what Geagea has presented for Lebanon,” he continued.

“We should no longer remain attached to the past and we should look forward to building a future together,” he stressed.

“The past should not be forgotten however,” said lawmaker.

“We do not act out of spite with anyone and we have never acted out of spite,” he emphasized.

“We back coexistence between Muslims and Christians and we have never discriminated against anyone. Everyone has his place in Lebanon,” Aoun remarked.

“On this historic day, I believe we will be able to achieve what we have pledged,” he added.

Prior to the conference, Geagea had held talks with Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil and MP Ibrahim Kanaan, both of the Change and Reform bloc.

The two officials and Aoun had held talks earlier on Monday with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi.

The patriarch had also held a separate meeting with Saniora.

Lebanon has been without a president since May 2014 when the term of Michel Suleiman ended without the election of successor.

Ongoing disputes between the rival March 8 and 14 camps have thwarted the polls.

Mustaqbal Movement leader MP Saad Hariri launched late in 2015 a proposal to nominate Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh as president.

Geagea, Hariri's ally in the March 14 camp, was a presidential nominee at the time and observers have said that the LF leader's nomination of Aoun is a response to Mustaqbal Movement leader's proposal.

M.T.

Comments 68
Thumb _mowaten_ 8 years

At least Geagea will have done one thing right, we can give him that.

Thumb _mowaten_ 8 years

Tataratataaaa! :D

Thumb Mystic 8 years

Naharnet seems to be ashamed of this photo, since they didn't post it here.

https://www.dailystar.com.lb/dailystar/Pictures/2016/01/18/422503_img650x420_img650x420_crop.jpg

Thumb Mystic 8 years

Stop your whining and be happy for once, this is good for Lebanon.

Missing heroes 8 years

Idass wa jinaz. An3i lakum fake hakim.

Missing ArabDemocrat.com 8 years

So let us go and elect a president

Missing cedars 8 years

let us remind one another if Aoun was elected and your weapons are exposed again as sulieman showed as illegal then you will drop Aoun as traitor..bottom line you want a president to follow Iran and Assad otherwise they are Israeli or,Saudi.

Default-user-icon Guest (Guest) 8 years

What are you doing ya Hakim?

Default-user-icon cftc (Guest) 8 years

Congratulations to General Aoun. Now, Christians have a real leader. Thank you to Geagea too !!!

Thumb thepatriot 8 years

Geagea: We (...) urge against the use of arms no matter what the insecurities are.

Aoun: We support all the principles that Geagea had stipulated.

Let's wait and see what happens next...

Thumb thepatriot 8 years

Whay do you vote down momo? It's just a quote ... lol

Thumb _mowaten_ 8 years

It's not just a quote, it's followed by a comment full of negativity.

Thumb Mystic 8 years

thepatriot, it's not a big mystery. Do you really believe Geagea would ever bow down to Franjieh? Geagea killed Franjiehs whole family back in the day.

No he bow to Aoun instead, and this is the best. Maybe this will make the Christians come together finally now.

Thumb thepatriot 8 years

he's not the kind of man to bow... wait & see mystic... wait & see...

Thumb Mystic 8 years

Read my comment again pat, why shouldn't Geagea do it? Hariri gave up on him, and he went to the most influential Christian Leader in Lebanon, which is General Aoun.

Thumb lubnani.masi7i 8 years

The iranian thugs keep saying Dr. Geagea is a Saudi agent and on their payroll. It seems KSA is now nominating michel aoun for president. strange..

Thumb Elemental 8 years

Notice how they magically change their tone? I think they really need to get rid of their "if you're not with us, you're a zionist salafi" approach.

Thumb liberty 8 years

So according to flamethrower (the_roar) Geagea is no longer paid by Saudi Arabia.

Thumb thepatriot 8 years

let's wait and see what happens next is "full of negativity"!? em... ok...whatever...

Thumb thepatriot 8 years

ooooh shut up already! I'm not insinuating anything! I am curious to see what happens next! Now give me a break and go honk in the next tunnel you find momo!

Thumb ex-fpm 8 years

why do you engage with such a troll?!!!!

Thumb Mystic 8 years

ex, you lost my friend.

Thumb thepatriot 8 years

momo... you're a useless spammer. You have your own 2 cents logic.You are intellectually limited, and almost never understand what people express here. You're not very interesting. Your only interest on this forum is to troll...tsk tsk tsk... poor soul...

Thumb _mowaten_ 8 years

you're the one who should shut-up, if you can't take responsibility for what you're saying.

Thumb ex-fpm 8 years

جعجع: ما عزز اقتناعنا بهذه الخطوة، هو التطور الإيجابي في العلاقة بين التيار الوطني الحر والقوات اللبنانية، لا سيما من خلال ورقة إعلان النوايا التي وقعت في حزيران من العام 2015 وما تضمنته مقدمة الورقة من حرص على تنقية الذاكرة والتطلع نحو مستقبل يسوده التعاون السياسي أو التنافس الشريف.

I disagree here with Geagea here. Just because the relationship between the LF and the fpm has improved you do not nominate someone who is allied with a terrorist militia and whose objective is to establish an islamic shia state in Lebanon mirroring wilayat al faqih.

It would have been more honorable to announce his withdrawal from M14 ( or what's left of it ) instead of nominating someone diametrically opposed to his beliefs. There is no M14 or M8 anymore. There is hezbollah and its state.

Fine, will Aoun and Hezbollah now head to parliament and elect Aoun along with the LF?

Thumb thepatriot 8 years

There are many questions to be raised indeed...
1- Will Ebola go to parliament to vote?
2- Will Frangieh still present his candidacy? Probably not...how will he react then? Naaah... who cares really!
3- For whom will Future vote? How will Jumby react?
4- What is the deal between Aoun & Geagea?

...

Thumb _mowaten_ 8 years

start calling him "President" ya humble, the sooner you get used to it the better it'll be for you hahaha

Thumb liberty 8 years

there is no time limit for the troll. It's 3 in the morning Beirut time and he is still spamming the forum with idiotic comments.

Thumb _mowaten_ 8 years

you speak of yourself in the third person now?

Thumb justin 8 years

mowaten, you posted your comment 9 hours ago (it is almost 12 p.m at the time of my writing this comment ) which makes it you posted your comment (12-9) 3 in the morning. Must be something really worrying you that you don't sleep. SO Liberty is correct.

Thumb Mystic 8 years

Ex, this will strengthen the Christians in Lebanon. This will merge them together and bring more unity.

Thumb Elemental 8 years

You used Christians from the beginning, and hopefully this move doesn't involve your revolutionary guards either.

Thumb Mystic 8 years

This is a Christian matter between their leaders, do you think I love Geagea? I hated him since I was a kid and he hates the Resistance just the same.

But this will bring more stability to Lebanon, that is what I applaud.

Thumb Elemental 8 years

As long as your Revolutionary Guard and any other influences are involved I hope this will bring stability. If it involves ANY outside force, there's no real stability. Christians in Lebanon need to stand together and not be bought by Iran or KSA, fair enough?

Thumb Elemental 8 years

are not involved***

Thumb Mystic 8 years

Read my comment again Element. You've got my answer already.

Thumb Elemental 8 years

And you have mine, zero influence, period.

Thumb gigahabib 8 years

This is what happens when the Saudis don't pay on time.

Thumb Elemental 8 years

So you're implying Christians are basically either the puppets of KSA or Iran, and nothing more?

Thumb Machia 8 years

Expect Saudi payments to dwindle substantially in 2016. Iranian payments too. Everyone in the region has an interest in stop bleeding money on spilling blood!

Thumb Elemental 8 years

Long as neither Iran or KSA are involved that's the important thing. Christians need to unite absolutely, buy not at the influence of others.

Missing youssefhaddad 8 years

This is a lesson for all those followers who kill and die, who destroy their life and future in order to support their leaders.
I am glad that these two parties are reconciling and uniting together, I regret all the death and destruction, the years that it took for this to happen.

Thumb gigahabib 8 years

That's the thing, politicians send the sons and fathers of others to fight and die, only to kiss and make up later, as if nothing happened.

Missing helicopter 8 years

If you are including Berri and Nasrallah then I agree with you

Thumb gigahabib 8 years

Nasrallah's own son fought and died for the Resistance, so no, Helium, it is not comparable to the common Lebanese politician.

Thumb liberty 8 years

no mega/giga ( many usernames) he died in a fight in a night club.

Missing helicopter 8 years

And you are special kind of Iranian traitor and Sectarian to the bone.

Missing lagom 8 years

What are Aoun's chances of becoming a president now that he has Geagea's and Hizbullah's support?

Thumb justin 8 years

zero before and minus zero now.

Thumb khallas_ba2a 8 years

I believe Aoun reached some political agreement with Geagea that would benefit the LF in the next cabinet (no. of ministers). And within Geagea's plan, would be to have actual productive ministers that caters to the publics interest (not like all the current ministers) which would win over future potential voters for the LF.
Short term: Aoun gets the seat.
Long Term: LF gain followers.

Now if Aoun becomes is President, we will have to wait and see if he will backstab the Lebanese Christians in some way or another to please Iran(he has to thank Hizballah's weapons and stubbornness someway).

At least Aoun isnt as extreme as Franjieh when it comes to the Assad Iranian proxy.

My last hope at this stage is for the independents to nominate Ziad Baroud (a true statesman)

Thumb lebanon_first 8 years

very smart strategic move by geagea.

he makes a deal with a man who has one foot in the grave, and he gets to inherit some of his supporters when he dies.

smaaaart ....

Missing incorruptible 8 years

Yup. Too bad it took him that long to come to that obvious idea.

Thumb Marc 8 years

Mr Berrie can call the Parliament and have the vote for President once and for all and let's move forward with rectifying the issues for the people of Lebanon . . . Hope all solutions are purely Lebanese

Missing un520 8 years

The heat is really on Berri at the moment. He is a part of March 8 coalition and should act accordingly instaed of giving his MPs "freedom to choose". Jumblatt, Gemayels will also feel the pressure.

Thumb jabal10452 8 years

In my opinion neither of them is presidential material. But considering the situation in the country, this is better than nothing. Let's see how the rest of m14 reacts to this. This is not a done deal just yet.

Thumb jabal10452 8 years

I never tried to hide the fact that I am LF. Despite this, I don't think that Geagea is good presidential material. And contrary to what you might believe, people in the LF have to right to express their own opinion. It is called democracy.

Thumb nickjames 8 years

Good move for Geagea. Supporting the stronger side, especially after Hariri abandoned him in favor of Franjieh.

Missing mark 8 years

I don't like Jumbo, but I agree with only one statement he said in the past, who guesses what was it will win a $5 gift card :)

Thumb zahle1 8 years

Mystic, most Christians are LF, not doubt by far. This is a good thing. However, I laugh that Geagea is talking about implementing the Taif. There is no hope of ever disarming HA IMHO. It will be even tougher now. I think the smarter move, is to arm ourselves, and coordinate with HA the eradication of armed militias in Palestinian camps. Implement our own security within those camps. And cleanse our land from takfiri/ISIS and Nusra. HA just needs to leave our liquor stores alone, and let us drink arak, and let the women wear bikinis at the beach if they like, and we can all live together. Mystic, just take care of that for me, and maybe we can be happy. Kaysuk!

Thumb beiruti 8 years

This doesn't mean much. Do you believe that between Aoun and Geagea the issue of. The Lebonese Presidency hangs? It is a regional, if not an international issue. The decision regionally is with KSA and Iran. GEagea cannot give Aoun the Presidency over a regional veto. It is not KSA with the. Eto, but Iran. iRan does not want the Lebanese State to rise back. Any President, even Aoun is a step in that direction.

Default-user-icon George (Guest) 8 years

Can't wait to hear what Jumbalat have to say. after all it is his idea to nominate frangiyeh

Missing mark 8 years

@ Hashtag_brsoumian.you got it, and I believe you are the only one who has brain and uses it I do respect you and I donated $$$ to a poor lebanese family that I am sure they will benefit from it. every body else on naharnet is full of stupidity and hateress. let's see how many thumb down I will receive now.

Missing mark 8 years

. Guess, and Win a $5 gift card What is the common thing between 3oun, ge3ge3 and franjaye

Missing mark 8 years

All 3 of them are criminals and killed thousands of Lebanese people. Vote No for all of them them. I hope Lebanese people will wake up one day and and all the garbage that we have is gone.......Nah that won't happen

Thumb marcus 8 years

and still Hezbollah will not go to parliament and vote its favorite pet.

Missing humble 8 years

You said it very well Bro....

Thumb thepatriot 8 years

I think that Ebola is kind of cornered. What pathetic excuse can they come up with now?
If they do not show up in parliament, their alliance with Aoun becomes obsolete. Is it the case?
If only Ebola fails to show up at parliament to vote, there will still be a quorum. So their failure to show up is unnecessary. They cannot block the elections alone...

Default-user-icon relatively (Guest) 8 years

Are you talking about arab petro dollars or persian petro dollars