Geagea Proposes Selecting 2 Candidates Besides Himself, Aoun to End Presidential Deadlock

by Naharnet Newsdesk almost 10 years

Timeline

Geagea: I accept the entire Bkirki list of candidates which includes Ziad Baroud, Demianos Qattar, and Rogers Deeb. almost 10 years

Geagea: It is certain that I will be a president for all the Lebanese and there is no controversy over my credibility in this respect. Political choices are a separate matter. almost 10 years

Geagea: If Patriarch al-Rahi ran for office, I would certainly endorse him. But I do not advise him to submit his candidacy because he is a religious man and the presidency is a political post. almost 10 years

Geagea: If Patriarch al-Rahi called for another leaders' meeting I am ready to attend it. He lived through two failed experiences and we agreed on many issues during the Bkirki talks. But the Marada Movement did not agree of this. almost 10 years

Geagea: Saudi Arabia has never interfered in any political issue and it does not oppose anything March 14 agrees on. almost 10 years

Geagea: I am ready to agree with Aoun on any name but he does not want this. almost 10 years

Geagea: I am open to any suggestion that would take us out of the current vacuum. Of course we veto some names. almost 10 years

Geagea: What joined us with the al-Mustaqbal Movement is great and the movement has paid a huge price. No one should worry about our relationship. almost 10 years

Geagea: Saad Hariri is acting correctly. The meeting with Aoun was to take place in Rome but after the news was leaked, Aoun had to fly to Paris. almost 10 years

Geagea: To say that al-Mustaqbal Movement has changed its political project is not true. almost 10 years

Geagea: I went to Paris because I had not left the country in 2 years and we have French and Saudi friends who happened to be there at the same time. At the same time, two and a half years had passed without meeting with Hariri. almost 10 years

Geagea: (Ex-PM Saad) Hariri's stance on the presidency is based on the fact that this is not a decisive time. almost 10 years

Geagea: General Aoun currently rejects any suggestion and is holding onto his nomination. I have told him honestly that I cannot accept him (as president). almost 10 years

Geagea: I cannot eliminate myself and my history and agree on Aoun, and you cannot call this a "historical settlement" but an elimination of all my alliances and my history. I cannot be told to stop all of this and accept Aoun (for office). almost 10 years

Geagea on the presidential race: I am ready for any other suggestion if the other team has any proposals. almost 10 years

Geagea: We have three solutions for the current impasse; first, General Aoun can attend the parliamentary session and whoever wins we will congratulate them, and the battle could be consensual if Aoun wanted. almost 10 years

Geagea: If General Aoun does not want this solution, speaking on behalf of March 14, I call for agreeing on two consensual names and electing one of them at the parliament. almost 10 years

Geagea: Since the beginning I have said that it is not "me or no one else" issue, but Sheikh Naim Qassem's ally General Aoun is the one rejecting to discuss candidates other than himself. almost 10 years

Geagea: MP Henri Helou cannot stay a candidate if he perceives that MP Aoun and I are both nominees, and MP Jumblat, who is an expert on the Lebanese Pact, cannot obstruct the elections then. If he does so, there will be a battle. almost 10 years

Geagea: You cannot say that I obstructed the presidential elections after I had nominated myself and my MPs went to parliament to vote. almost 10 years

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea in an interview on MTV: It is not acceptable that one year after the death of Hashem Salman investigation has not reached any conclusions and I hope Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi would question the judge tasked with this case. almost 10 years

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Monday presented three “solutions” to end the presidential impasse, 15 days after former President Michel Suleiman left office with no successor to take his place in the coming six years.

Among his suggested “solutions,” Geagea proposed selecting two nominees from the March 14 and the March 8 coalitions other than himself and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, and voting for one of them at the parliament.

“We have three solutions for the current impasse. First, General Aoun can attend the parliamentary session and whoever wins we will congratulate them, and the battle could be consensual if Aoun wanted,” Geagea said in an interview on MTV on Monday evening.

“And if Aoun does not agree on this solution, I, speaking on behalf of March 14, call for agreeing on two consensual names and electing one of them at the parliament,” he added.

As for the third option, Geagea said he is ready for any other suggestion proposed by his political foes.

But the Christian leader announced that he will not support Aoun's run for office.

“I cannot overthrow myself and my history and agree on Aoun, and you cannot call this a 'historic settlement' but an elimination of all my alliances and my history,” he explained.

“I cannot be asked to stop all of this and accept Aoun (for office).”

“General Aoun currently rejects any suggestion and is holding onto his nomination. I have told him honestly that I cannot accept him (as president),” Geagea added.

“Since the beginning I have said that it is not a 'myself or no one else' issue, but (Hizbullah deputy chief) Sheikh Naim Qassem's ally General Aoun is the one rejecting to discuss candidates other than himself.”

Geagea also considered that National Struggle Front's nominee MP Henri Helou cannot remain a candidate if he perceives that Aoun and himself are both nominees.

"(Progressive Socialist Party leader) MP (Walid) Jumblat, who is an expert on the Lebanese Pact, cannot obstruct the elections then,” he remarked.

Geagea revealed that he approves of all names in the Bkirki list of nominees for presidency. The list includes former Interior Minister Ziad Baroud, Demianos Qattar and Roger Deeb.

The LF leader also said he would “certainly” endorse Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi if he decided to take part in the presidential race.

“But I do not advise him to submit his candidacy because he is a religious man and the presidency is a political post,” he said.

S.D.B.

SourceNaharnet

Lebanon Politics Samir Geagea

Comments 34

jean-pierre almost 10 years

Hakim for president !!!! you are the rock of lebanon

lebanon_first almost 10 years

mich hal2ad ya JP!!

jean-pierre almost 10 years

hal2ed wa noss. Why not. He stuck to his principles from day 1. He had been loving and defending lebanon since 1975. He choose prison rather than compromising his beliefs. hal2ed wa miet hal2ed

theresistance4.0 almost 10 years

more like the annoying pebble in ur sock ;)

ice-man almost 10 years

This was a genius statement out of you my dearest friend josephani4.0, a superstar flexing at the apex of his abilities, the meshing of body and mind and experience that almost makes any rebuttal futile. Have a nice day:)

ex-fpm almost 10 years

lol ice-man!

theresistance4.0 almost 10 years

Lmaoooo Icey!! Should I "Shut your mouse"? Gaga is the because! yes?

ice-man almost 10 years

still living in teazborne michigan?

Maxx almost 10 years

May I remind you that unlike the unshaved apes that you follow like an unshorn sheep, Ja3jay Binks had actually served his sentence for his crimes. I'd love to see Aoun or Hasan have the humanity to sit in jail for a decade and a half for what they've done!

ice-man almost 10 years

Habib El Jamaheeeeeeer! Hakim W'bassssssssss!!!:))

ex-fpm almost 10 years

Aoun is destroying Lebanon and handing it over to the militia of iran. Geagea is being more than reasonable by saying he accepts the Bkirki list. Aoun will never accept it unless Nasrallah tells him so.

LEBhasNOhope almost 10 years

not sure why this is an issue. I thought CLAoun did not want to be president. M8's claim that Geagea is a confrontational candidate is negated as well with the suggestion Ziad Baroud, Demianos Qattar, and Rogers Deeb. the only card they have left to play is their claim that the above 3 are not "consensual" candidates. regardless of what is proposed, they will always have an excuse to keep the presidency unoccupied.

forces almost 10 years

No not consensual enough apparently aoun is more consensual as well as the " strongest" and can crack coconuts with his teeth :)

.karim almost 10 years

Fal ya7kom al ikhwan!

.karim almost 10 years

More like habib il 5 MPs lol.

.karim almost 10 years

Geagea's a Salafist, he's not eligible for the Presidency.

ice-man almost 10 years

have you ever considered suicide as a remedy?

Neal (Guest) almost 10 years

i suppose a traitor and a sellout like Aoun is ?!

jean-pierre almost 10 years

Hakim wo basssssssssssssssssssss.....
alla,libnan ouwet hakim wo bassssssss

beiruti almost 10 years

This is very constructive and shows that Geagea and M14 do not have their sticks in the wheel. That Geagea will not and cannot support Aoun does not mean that Aoun cannot nevertheless get elected if he gets 65 votes elsewhere and that Geagea will not congratulate him on his win, if he wins. This is electoral majoritarian politics. Aoun is stuck in consensual politics where all must agree and therefore anyone, regardless of how tiny the minority can obstruct the majority.

Apparently for Aoun, a majority is not enough, he must have 100% or nothing. Well, he cannot, with his history have 100% as Geagea cannot have 100% but Geagea is willing to win with 51% or to take the chance of losing.

beiruti almost 10 years

It is democracy. If Aoun cannot see 65 votes then rather than suffer the blow of electoral defeat, he can put up an alternative M8 candidate and M14 can put up their alternative candidate and those two can be submitted to Parliament for a vote and one will win and the other lose, but Lebanon will have a President.

That Aoun objects is either his own pride and obstinacy, or he is under Iranian orders to keep his stick in the wheel and await a regional choice for Lebanese president, who, by the way, will not be Aoun.

cedre almost 10 years

very clever move from Geagea, showing it's not about personal interests, but Lebanon and lebanese. Aoun must be embarassed. He'll call NasrIran who himself will call Khamenei. Let's see what answer they will bring.
Geagea should as well have proposed Helou.

cedre almost 10 years

baroud, kattar, harb, sami, amin, helou, anybody but a syro-iranian lackey...

Gi (Guest) almost 10 years

geagea you are crazy old boy. A criminal should never never talk o give us solutions you are the problem it doesn´t mean I Like Aoun . but you should in jail or in Deir al Salib

forces almost 10 years

It seems that only Geagea is prepared to act with integrity and transparency. We are all clear on Geagea's position, his policies and even his negotiations. We are not so clear on aoun's position his policies or any proposal he has to end this. Aoun must now bight the bullet and accept that he is unwanted no matter how many times he runs to Hariri. Surely a mastermind in political negotiations hasn't painted himself into a corner he now cannot get out of? Where is that backbone mr aoun that you demonstrated fighting the Syrians with kitchen utensils? Why don't you accept the nomination of someone else? I have seen you on the news lately you are looking a very tired old man indeed are you up to the job? How is your health holding up?

Bizango Shingshang (Guest) almost 10 years

Dr. Arreet 7akeh thinks that when he proposes he is proposing to a loser like Stridabella Dumbassa who said yes mainly to change her pathetic last name of Dumbassa! wlak akh mennak ya arreet 7akeh shennak ma3touh bou la2a mkhashkhash akh!

sophia_angle almost 10 years

lady gaga still in his coma haram...3am bibal3it lahalo no one is answering him his situation is suicidal bi just GMA's shadow nightmare loool:)

cedaris almost 10 years

constantly have that on your mind do you?

politik_buro almost 10 years

So if everyone agrees on kattar or Baroud, why do we not have a president? Or does everyone agree on them?

forces almost 10 years

Pb if I have one Critisim of Geagea it would be that even though he is ready to nominate another candidate for the sake of the country he has continuously tried to satisfy these clowns. On the flip side however he may as well nominate bugs bunny for president for as long as it is not aoun M8 will not come to the party. He has succeeded in highlighting their twisted view on democracy and we now await aoun's rejection of anyone but himself yet again. It is amusing however how these keyboard warriors twist and turn in sync with aoun's positioning realignments and corrections. Sit back and enjoy the chaos.

lebcan almost 10 years

Thumbs up!
Unable to from my iPhone so I wrote it :)

politik_buro almost 10 years

Call me crazy but what if Aoun is elected? Let's theorize a bit here. Let HA and Aoun rule officially, I mean how bad can things get, can it get worse? Can anyone else see any other options? An impasse is the minimal description to this situation, but I don't think Aoun will give HA total control, I don't even think he can, and the international powers won't allow it anyway. I consider Aoun and Geagea to be of similar past, as in there's baggage on both sides, and it's not for me to judge either or their followers, but sure if there is no way in he'll Aoun and HA will have anybody else, then let's sit down and make a deal, who knows

sophia_angle almost 10 years

with all respect to the readers n naharnet that i like big time:

"the most ironic thing is when a militia brain doc calling to make a strong & righteous government ! can i ask where did all the money went that he took from us as christians all that time 'kowet' khouwet same name as well!! he built a castle in maarab on our blood n bodies this murderer wants to become a president !! he will be in hell dats for sure.

ashrafieh (Guest) almost 10 years

wolf your an idiot he was never convicted of any crimes, he was sitting in prison for no reason, only because the syrian regime wanted him there. Look wut happened when they left, he was let go because they had no case against him. I can't believe people actually have your mentality, well actually i could, because all of you are brainwashed dummies. You call takfiries brainwashed, you are even worse.