Aoun from Baabda: Those Hindering National Obligations Will Pay the Price
Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Michel Aoun vowed on Sunday to continue his movement's mission to combat corruption in Lebanon, blaming the political class for the country's problems.
He declared: “Those manipulating the parliamentary elections and hindering other national obligations will pay the price of their actions.”
He made his declaration during an FPM rally near the presidential palace in Baabda commemorating the events of October 13, 1990.
“The problem we face today is that we are being governed by the same officials who were ruling on October 13, 1990,” he continued.
“A new phase of struggle has begun and it will result in change, at your hands through elections, and then we will play our role to achieve reform,” he told the cheering crowd.
“The promised miracle will take place through you. Only your voice will restore Lebanon's glory,” said Aoun.
“They are doing their utmost to stifle our voice, but your voice comes from God and no one can stop it,” he remarked.
“Change will take place through real elections. We therefore demand the adoption of an electoral law based on proportionality,” he stressed.
“To those accusing us of paralyzing state institutions, we say, yes, we are obstructing corruption and attempts to violate the constitution,” he added.
Turning to the prolonged presidential vacuum, Aoun remarked: “We do not want a consensual president, who will divide Lebanon to appease greedy officials. We also do not want the election of a neutral head of state.”
“We do not want the election of a puppet president, but one who will reflect your image,” declared Aoun, who is a presidential candidate.
Lebanon has been without a president since May 2014 when the term of Michel Suleiman ended without the election of a successor.
Ongoing disputes between the rival March 8 and 14 camps over a compromise candidate have thwarted the polls.
Furthermore, Aoun said that the current cabinet “should have resigned long ago,” while voicing his disappointment with the mounting daily problems the Lebanese people are facing, starting with the constant power outages and ongoing garbage disposal crisis.
During Lebanon's 1975-90, civil war, Aoun served as the premier of the legal faction of the two rival governments contending for power in the country from 1988 to October 1990.
He declared the “Liberation War” against the Syrian occupation on March 14 1989. On the October 13, 1990, the Syrian forces invaded Beirut, killing hundreds of unarmed soldiers and civilians.
Aoun, then-prime minister, left the Presidential Palace and sought refuge in the French Embassy and he was later allowed to travel to France.
He returned to Lebanon on May 7, 2005, eleven days after the withdrawal of Syrian troops.
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