Aoun in Confrontation with Cabinet: Either Consensus or Explosion
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun has warned that the rival parties should either resort to “consensus” or the country's political crisis would “explode.”
“I clearly say today either consensus or explosion. We are targeted,” Aoun told As Safir newspaper in an interview published on Friday.
He said that since his return to Lebanon from exile in Paris ten years ago, some parties are working to eliminate him and trying to put obstacles to the participation of Christians in political decision-making.
Aoun told As Safir that despite his bloc's victory in the parliamentary elections of 2005 and 2009, he hasn't been able to appoint a single judge or officer in the Internal Security Forces.
“I will confront the cabinet … I am fighting to consolidate reform and rights. That's why everyone is mobilizing against me,” he said.
“They might want us to dive in the game of robbing (the Christians') rights. Had I done that, I would have become their leader,” Aoun said about his rivals.
“The confrontation will be against blocs that were formed against us because we can no longer continue in this masquerade,” the Change and Reform bloc leader added.
Aoun announced his backing for the creation of a federal system in Lebanon despite the objection of his rivals.
“If married couples disagree, they resort to divorce. We don't want divorce but we propose federalism that is based on a centralized government.”
Asked about his ties with al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri, Aoun said: “Hariri might be honest but he is incapable of doing what he wants.”
The lawmaker reiterated that during their last meeting at the Center House in February, he discussed with Hariri the appointments of high-ranking security and military officials.
FPM ministers backed by their allies Hizbullah and the Tashnag Party have been demanding the discussion of the appointments by the cabinet before any other issue.
Aoun wants his son-in-law Commando Regiment chief Brig. Gen. Chamel Roukoz to be appointed army chief.
Roukoz's tenure ends in October 2015 while the term of army commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji expires at the end of September.
Aoun denied that he had a personal problem with Qahwaji but that he had objections to his performance.
Although the government has so far failed to discuss the appointments, Aoun said the FPM ministers will not resign from the cabinet.
“They will participate through popular means,” he told As Safir, without giving details about his plan to object the government's actions.
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