Hariri Formally Endorses Aoun, Says Decision a 'Major Political Risk' that He's Willing to Take
Al-Mustaqbal Movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri formally endorsed Thursday the presidential nomination of Free Patriotic Movement founder MP Michel Aoun, describing his decision as a “major political risk” that he is willing to take for the sake of the country.
“Based on the points of agreement that we have reached, I announce today before you my decision to endorse the nomination of General Michel Aoun for the presidency of the republic,” said Hariri in a speech at the Center House -- his downtown Beirut residence.
“This decision stems from the need to protect Lebanon, the political system, the State and people... It is a decision based on an agreement to cooperate to preserve the system, strengthen the State, reactivate economy and dissociate ourselves from the Syrian crisis,” he added.
He noted that Aoun will be “a president for all Lebanese and a guardian of their sovereignty, freedom, independence, and the choices that unite them, not the choices of discord.”
“He will be keen, like us, on showing openness towards all political forces,” Hariri reassured.
Disclosing the agreements that preceded his decision to endorse Aoun, the ex-PM said he agreed with the FPM founder on preserving “the State and the political system.”
“We openly agreed that no one will propose any amendment to the system before securing national consensus from all Lebanese on such a proposal,” he added.
“In our dialogue, we also agreed on reactivating the State and its institutions and reviving the economy, the main services and job opportunities,” Hariri revealed.
“We also reached an agreement on fully dissociating our State, the Lebanese State, from the crisis in Syria. We want to protect our country from this crisis... and we would restore our normal ties with the Syrians after the end of the crisis and after the Syrians agree on their system, country and state,” the ex-PM added.
He noted that he reached the choice of endorsing Aoun after exhausting all other options.
“Our first choice in nominating (Lebanese Forces leader) Dr. Samir Geagea, ex-president Amin Gemayel or any March 14 representative failed to produce a president. Our second choice of a consensual, centrist candidate also did not lead to the election of a president.
“And our third choice in nominating Suleiman Beik Franjieh, who has become a friend and will remain a friend, also did not lead to a president, seeing as no party other than us made a real attempt to secure his election,” he said.
“We had only one choice left: General Michel Aoun. I'm saying it clearly and frankly, especially after our allies in the LF endorsed his nomination,” Hariri explained.
He described his step as “a political settlement par excellence.”
“I know that a lot of you are not convinced with what I'm doing and some of you fear the risks that it poses to me, personally and politically. I know that a lot of you have doubts regarding Hizbullah's true intentions... and are suggesting that I'm sacrificing my popularity and maybe some votes in the next parliamentary polls,” he added.
“Yes, this is a major political risk, but I'm willing to risk myself, my popularity and my political future one thousand times to protect all of you,” Hariri went on to say.
“It will not be the first time that we sacrifice our political and popular interests for the sake of the country, the State and stability,” he added.
Lebanon has been without a president since the term of Michel Suleiman ended in May 2014 and Hizbullah, Aoun's Change and Reform bloc and some of their allies have been boycotting the parliament's electoral sessions, stripping them of the needed quorum.
Hariri had launched an initiative in late 2015 to nominate Hizbullah's ally MP Suleiman Franjieh for the presidency but his proposal was met with reservations from the country's main Christian parties as well as Hizbullah.
The supporters of Aoun's presidential bid have argued that he is more eligible than Franjieh to become president due to the size of his parliamentary bloc and his bigger influence in the Christian community.
over 7 years
A crazy old lunatic is going to be our President... Hurray!
over 7 years
Allah, Nassrallah, Hariri, Aoun W'bassss!
over 7 years
what about Gigi, he endorses Aoun too.
disappointed MF (My Friend), no?
over 7 years
Allah, Nassrallah, Hariri, Jaja w Aoun w basssss
over 7 years
"Hariri: I declare my support for General Michel Aoun's presidential nomination, based on the points that we have agreed on."
Aoun is the one and only legitimate candidate for President, it took two years but finally this has been recognized by all.
over 7 years
habboub irani dont be so pathetic. when you have nothing to say, say nothing.
over 7 years
what would you do eagleyawn if you didnt have my words to steal?
over 7 years
@terr:
Rafik Hariri enjoyed very good relation with the Lebanese resistance, it seems that his son may follow the line.. you statement doesn't surprise anyone, since you follow the zionist state line... now paint your face, since things are not going according to your projection, really stupid.
over 7 years
Hariris own people already called him a weak person and alot of bad things from his own Tripoli stronghold.
over 7 years
Now Hariri rather wants to live together than to follow Rifi running in circles, we do not have to love each other.
Hariris position will be respected and now this might be more stable Government and institutions.
over 7 years
trolls will speak of everything except the points that matter.
over 7 years
Well rather want Hariri is premier than Rifi.
Hariri knows when he have lost a battle, Rifi rather want to run in circles and drag the whole country down with him.
over 7 years
i haven't seen @texas the drug merchandiser from Mexico to Usa through texas around here yet, he must be disappointed with his heroes, till yesterday the Saudi stooges.
over 7 years
mabrouk to Lebanon, and condolences to the hate group. you guys are really getting more and more isolated. who's left with you? rifi? good luck with that mafioso.
over 7 years
as much as I would want it to be, our system is not a full democracy with universal suffrage. the president is elected through the parliament, which have to agree on a candidate that fulfills certain conditions like being maronite and being legitimate through his representativity and public support.
over 7 years
elections can be suspended if the quorum is not met, and that is straight out of the consitution. this means that a majority alone is not enough, and that over two thirds of the parliament must not be opposed to a certain candidate. that's not ideal, but that's how it is.
over 7 years
one way to break the stalemate would have been to hold fresh parliamentary elections (that are way overdue), and see if the new layout would give either candidate the required numbers, but apparently nobody wanted that
over 7 years
.mowaten. I'm not a big poster here but I have been using this site for over 41 years and recently I have been liking your posts, you're the only one informing these deluded ignorants. :)
over 7 years
As much as you may dislike Aoun, he is in no way a war criminal. He took part in the war, as a general in the army, yes. But there are no cases where he committed or ordered war crimes.
over 7 years
As for your last remark (Ma fee 7ada bhal balad illa hal orta? Walla 3eyb...) this can be said also about the US, like seriously, 300m people and the only two they could come up with were trump and hillary? it sound ridiculous, and there are certainly better suited people out there, but that is the situation that the current balance of powers produced, and the people will have to deal with it. same thing with lebanon
over 7 years
He is a deserter.
over 7 years
that also isnt true
over 7 years
whatever the despicable iranian troll says is the truth.
over 7 years
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQky3pfyJTY
Yeah... I must be delusional..
over 7 years
Biggest Historical mistake: a mareedman at the top.
Mark my words.
over 7 years
18:50
الرئيس ميقاتي معلّقاً على موقف الرئيس الحريري عبر "تويتر": مغامرة جديدة نخشى أن تقود الوطن إلى مزيد من الإنقسام والتأزم. أعان الله لبنان واللبنانيين.
over 7 years
With general aoun's good looks and hariri's brains, Lebanon will be like Switzerland again and the best country in the Middle East after Iran.
over 7 years
terrorist,
I was about 11 when I first saw you commenting here, and I'm now 43! As the years went by, you never gave up! You still reside here, bloviating away! What a soldier!
I envy you: being stuck in my mommy's basement, having no life other using the computer (do you pronounce that as KOMButah when speaking to mama?)to berate just about everything on Naharnet using half-baked English which your diminutive mind confuses for "wit", must be so daunting a task, huh? Do you, like, ummm...keep a tab? You know, like a scoreboard, which you tick every day, as to which article you commented on, what, where, and how? If so, wow! You're the most special snowflake I've ever come across. You deserve the utmost respect of the patients found across all mental wards in the Lebanese Republic.
What a life! What prompted you to embark on this noble journey? The root cause, I mean. Is it a result of being....obese? Microscopic genitals?
over 7 years
just read the responsible words of the FPM
20:28النائب الان عون للـ"OTV": لم تنضج الامور من أجل الوصول إلى قانون انتخابي جديد لذا سنأكل العصفور الذي في اليد وهو رئاسة الجمهوريّة وسننتظر لنأكل العصافير التي على الشجرة لكن من المؤكد أن لا مقايضة في هذا الملف.
over 7 years
or expect a major assassination
over 7 years
20:49عون: نحترم حرية رأي الرئيس بري.
he respects Berri's militia it seems.
over 7 years
When you have a militia of thugs, Aoun respects you. But if you don't, he will accuse you of violating the national pact and marginalizing the Christians.
over 7 years
Lebanese Lexicon: Strong is a person who is willing to crash and burn the country so he can be president. Weak is a person who is willing to pay the ultimate political price so his country does not crash and burn. Anyone with iota of brain realizes that Aoun is willing to crash the country to realize his ambitions. I may not agree with Hariri action but I can definitely understand it - choosing the least bad of a lousy situation.
over 7 years
so what happens now, will aoun and hezballah attend oct 31's session even if they cannot grantee aoun the needed votes?
over 7 years
It's kind of ironic. If parliament convenes on Oct. 31, Michel Aoun will be elected on Halloween day...
over 7 years
"The president elects a PM who can not be opposed"
what are you smoking?
over 7 years
@southie/roar
are you still working as a night security guard?
over 7 years
Saadedine Hariri is the only world leader working for Lebanon's interests at the moment. The rest...... not sure.
no susprise here terroro, you would only endorse the ones seeking war chaos and strife. we all know what you "stand" for.