Aoun Says Willing to Attend Electoral Session if Geagea is Sole Competitor

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Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun on Wednesday announced his willingness to attend a parliamentary session aimed at electing a new president if political forces pledge to limit the voting process to him and his political rival Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea.

“I'm willing to go to parliament if I receive pledges that the electoral battle will be limited to me and Geagea,” said Aoun during an interview on MTV.

“I don't care if I become a president or not and I'm only trying to preserve this Christian post,” he noted.

Playing down concerns over political vacuum in the country, Aoun pointed out that “there has always been vacuum in the country, with or without the presence of a president.”

“We went to parliament in the first electoral session and we saw how the votes were distributed. Further sessions would have been of no use in the presence of three candidates,” Aoun explained.

“They wanted to make a maneuver (by eliminating me and Geagea) and electing a third candidate and they are still maneuvering,” he added.

Decrying that “the presidents are being appointed by foreign powers,” Aoun stressed that he is not calling for a constituent assembly “but rather for implementing the text and essence of the Taef Accord.”

Asked about Geagea's recent suggestion that the March 8 and March 14 forces reach an agreement on a third candidate in order to break the stalemate, Aoun said: “I do not want to reach this proposal and this suggestion is prohibited.”

“I want someone who can represent Christians and the Lebanese people and others do not want this,” he added.

“There has been a plot since 2005 to eliminate Michel Aoun (from the political scene) and this game is being played by most of the politicians,” Aoun pointed out.

Earlier on Wednesday, the parliament failed for the sixteenth time to elect a president due to a lack of quorum as Geagea reiterated his accusation that Aoun's Change and Reform bloc is obstructing the polls.

The first session was held on April 23 but none of the candidates received the sufficient amount of votes to be elected president.

Hizbullah and Aoun's bloc have been boycotting electoral sessions due to a disagreement with the March 14 camp over a compromise presidential candidate. Geagea has accused them of adopting such measures in order to blackmail political blocs into electing Aoun as president.

Turning to the issue of the recent extension of parliament's term, which has been challenged by Aoun's bloc before the Constitutional Council, the FPM leader said one “cannot speak of democracy while the parliament's term has been extended two times.”

“The security situation was worse in the past and we can organize parliamentary elections now,” Aoun underlined.

As for the letter he sent to Speaker Nabih Berri to demand a parliamentary session aimed at interpreting Article 24 of the Constitution which is related to equal power-sharing between Christians and Muslims, Aoun said he has not received any answer until the moment.

“But he cannot forbid us from interpreting an article that can lead to adopting a new electoral law,” Aoun added.

Despite the ongoing rift over the presidential elections, lawmakers attended earlier this month a session to extend their tenure until 2017.

The session was boycotted by Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement lawmakers and the Kataeb Party, which is part of the March 14 alliance.

In May 2013, the parliament voted to extend its own mandate for 17 months after the rival political parties failed to reach a deal on a new electoral law other than the one based on 50 small-sized districts in a winner-takes-all system.

Y.R.

Timeline
  • 19 November 2014, 22:47

    Aoun: I will accept the STL's ruling and until now the tribunal has not issued verdicts against Hizbullah members.

  • 19 November 2014, 22:46

    Aoun: I have announced my "existential integration" with Hizbullah in the face of terrorism and Israel and I invite the LF and others to join this integration.

  • 19 November 2014, 22:45

    Aoun on possible dialogue between Mustaqbal and Hizbullah: Political situations change and today I heard that Saudi Arabia has asked (the U.N. Security Council) to put Hizbullah on its list of terrorist organizations.

  • 19 November 2014, 22:42

    Aoun: Until now we have not received an answer from Berri regarding the call for a session aimed at interpreting Article 24 of the Constitution, but he cannot forbid us from interpreting an article that can lead to adopting a new electoral law.

  • 19 November 2014, 22:34

    Aoun on extension of parliament's term: The security situation was worse in the past and we can organize parliamentary elections now.

  • 19 November 2014, 22:05

    Aoun: There has been a plot since 2005 to eliminate Michel Aoun from the political scene and this game is being played by most of the politicians.

  • 19 November 2014, 22:01

    Aoun on Geagea's call for agreeing on a third candidate: I do not want to reach this proposal and this suggestion is prohibited. I want someone who can represent Christians and the Lebanese people and others do not want this.

  • 19 November 2014, 21:59

    Aoun: The presidents are being appointed by foreign powers and I'm not calling for a constituent assembly but rather for implementing the text and essence of the Taef Accord.

  • 19 November 2014, 21:57

    Aoun: I don't care if I become a president or not and I'm only trying to preserve this Christian post.

  • 19 November 2014, 21:55

    Aoun: I'm willing to go to parliament if I receive pledges that the electoral battle will be limited to me and Geagea.

  • 19 November 2014, 21:51

    Aoun: We went to parliament in the first electoral session and we saw how the votes were distributed. Further sessions would have been of no use in the presence of three candidates. They wanted to make a maneuver (by eliminating me and Geagea) and electing a third candidate and they are still maneuvering.

  • 19 November 2014, 21:49

    Aoun: How can we speak of democracy while the parliament's term has been extended two times?

  • 19 November 2014, 21:47

    Aoun: Gemayel's assassination might have been aimed at inflaming sentiments and stirring chaos.

  • 19 November 2014, 21:47

    Aoun: The assassination of Pierre Gemayel was a domestic liquidation and the judiciary has failed to identify the perpetrators.

  • 19 November 2014, 21:43

    Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun in an interview on MTV: There has always been vacuum in the country, with or without the presence of a president. Independence cannot be given as one must rather live it and the Lebanese are not sensing independence because they are under the foreign influence of many forces.

  • 19 November 2014, 21:43

    Aoun: Preserving independence is harder than gaining it and we lost our independence in 1967 when the influx of Palestinian refugees started.

SourceNaharnet
Comments 39
Thumb nickjames 19 November 2014, 21:54

Here we go...everyone get some popcorn and enjoy this...

Thumb sophia_angle 20 November 2014, 09:01

nawaret el mtv General ya ahla talle xoxo :)

Default-user-icon disco.flamethrower.volante (Guest) 20 November 2014, 09:30

wil dahieh also nawarit

Thumb thepatriot 20 November 2014, 11:45

" I don't care if I become a president or not and I'm only trying to preserve this Christian post"

LOL

Default-user-icon Costa (Guest) 19 November 2014, 22:03

What an idiot, it is shame, we lebanese, deserve better than that..

Thumb thepatriot 20 November 2014, 11:43

He is amazing really... he always condition things his way...
He will be candidate if he is the consensual candidate,
He will not go to parliament, until he is the consensual candidate,
He wants to change the constitution and be elected by the people,
He will go to parliament if Geagea is his only opponent,
Ufff! Enough with his diva attitude!

Thumb freedomarch 19 November 2014, 22:10

There were vacuums all the time, in his head, so what, he can still be a bresiDent in sometime.

Thumb ex-fpm 19 November 2014, 22:16

Aoun: I'm willing to go to parliament if I receive pledges that the electoral battle will be limited to me and Geagea.

uffff.... so it has nothing to do with Dr. Geagea being a "criminal" etc. as you and your followers have maintained. Anyway, what kind of democracy is it when you put conditions on the number of candidates that are running.... loser indeed.

Thumb freedomarch 19 November 2014, 22:48

Iranian " masa7at al nizam" job to pick adequate candidates that are loyal to the Ayatollah, otherwise dont dream of getting elected.Here Aoun is doing the same.

Thumb freedomarch 19 November 2014, 22:51

Msla7at alnizam*

Default-user-icon + oua nabka + (Guest) 19 November 2014, 22:38

let it be a battle between aoun and geagea ou khalsouna ba2a

Thumb nickjames 19 November 2014, 23:15

Aoun: Preserving independence is harder than gaining it and we lost our independence in 1967 when the influx of Palestinian refugees started.

--Always starting out with history lessons... Gotta love it

Thumb nickjames 19 November 2014, 23:17

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun in an interview on MTV: There has always been vacuum in the country, with or without the presence of a president. Independence cannot be given as one must rather live it and the Lebanese are sensing independence because they are under the foreign influence of many forces.

--Huh?? The Lebanese sense independence because we're under foreign influence?????? Lmaooooooooooooooo

Thumb nickjames 19 November 2014, 23:20

Aoun: The assassination of Pierre Gemayel was a domestic liquidation and the judiciary has failed to identify the perpetrators.

--You speak of Pierre as if he was a financial asset and not a person.

Thumb nickjames 19 November 2014, 23:21

Aoun: Gemayel's assassination might have been aimed at inflaming sentiments and stirring chaos.

--Jeddo, everyone knows he was part of Hezbollah's plan to overthrow the cabinet, a plan you went along with.

Thumb nickjames 19 November 2014, 23:22

Aoun: We went to parliament in the first electoral session and we saw how the votes were distributed. Further sessions would have been of no use in the presence of three candidates. They wanted to make a maneuver (by eliminating me and Geagea) and electing a third candidate and they are still maneuvering.

--But I thought you wouldn't discuss a candidate other than yourself. And didn't you say if March 14 supported Geagea you wouldn't nominate yourself?? So when was it ever about you versus Geagea??

Thumb nickjames 19 November 2014, 23:24

Aoun: I'm willing to go to parliament if I receive pledges that the electoral battle will be limited to me and Geagea.

--Always blaming other people to justify your stances. So I guess we've had vacuum for six months all because of Henri Helou, right...

Thumb nickjames 19 November 2014, 23:28

Aoun: I don't care if I become a president or not and I'm only trying to preserve this Christian post.

--Sure you don't care. That's why you wouldn't discuss any candidate other than yourself, and that's why you've been boycotting for six months and putting conditions on other people's candidacies...

Thumb nickjames 19 November 2014, 23:30

Aoun on Geagea's call for agreeing on a third candidate: I do not want to reach this proposal and this suggestion is prohibited. I want someone who can represent Christians and the Lebanese people and others do not want this.

--This suggestion is prohibited lmaoooooo so you said you don't wanna be president but now you're determining who the candidates are. By "others do not want this" you must be referring to Hezbollah...

Thumb nickjames 19 November 2014, 23:32

Aoun: There has been a plot since 2005 to eliminate Michel Aoun from the political scene and this game is being played by most of the politicians.

--"Most of the politicians", that must include some of your March 8 allies, right???

Thumb nickjames 19 November 2014, 23:34

Aoun on extension of parliament's term: The security situation was worse in the past and we can organize parliamentary elections now.

--How can you organise elections when you guys can't even agree on an electoral law??

Thumb nickjames 19 November 2014, 23:35

Aoun: Until now we have not received an answer from Berri regarding the call for a session aimed at interpreting Article 24 of the Constitution, but he cannot forbid us from interpreting an article that can lead to adopting a new electoral law.

--Oh please Jeddo. You're dancing around with another one of your manoeuvres just to disagree with everyone else and cause more dysfunction. How's your challenge in the constitutional council going??

Thumb nickjames 19 November 2014, 23:37

Aoun on possible dialogue between Mustaqbal and Hizbullah: Political situations change and today I heard that Saudi Arabia has asked (the U.N. Security Council) to put Hizbullah on its list of terrorist organizations.

--Michel Aoun the insider for OTV with his "sources" again lmaoooooo. So how did you get this information? Did you overhear a couple Saudis talking about it in Grand Hills?

Thumb nickjames 19 November 2014, 23:39

Aoun: I have announced my "existential integration" with Hizbullah in the face of terrorism and Israel and I invite the LF and others to join this integration.

--So you're offering others to join the resistance. So can the Ouwwet reactivate and deploy soldiers in the jabal?

Thumb nickjames 19 November 2014, 23:40

Aoun: I will accept the STL's ruling and until now the tribunal has not issued verdicts against Hizbullah members.

--How convincing, Jedoo... So you no longer suspect Fatah al-Islam, right?

Default-user-icon PEACE (Guest) 20 November 2014, 00:20

JUST RUBBISH and non sense talk
Imposing only two candidates is of not a democratic way (saying me vs Geagea or no one is exactly like saying me or no one). Maybe not you and not Geagea. In Lebanon lots of others have brain in their head.
Democratic election is open for all and not imposed for the benefit of one or two persons. I still consider myself much better than you or Geagea and so do lots of other Lebanese.

Thumb Maxx 20 November 2014, 06:43

The headline should rather read "Aoun says willing to attend electoral session if he has no competition".

Default-user-icon John Kay (Guest) 20 November 2014, 09:04

Have you guys noticed that most of this guy's supporters are slowly but surely deserting him...

Take the March 8 supporters that are always here lurking in the shadows of this forum but none has (so far) come along to praise their master or even defend him... Strange NO ?

Seriously if this guy thinks that he can go 1 on 1 with Gea3ga3 and with all the fuck ups Aoun has been associated with lately and all the while backing Hezballah for meddling in Syria and defending them and all their actions in Lebanon then he must be delusional ... Most of the Lebanese may not like Gea3ga3 for obvious reasons, but that was the past and people do not live in the past no more.

So I really don't think Aoun has a chance in hell in being elected as a President...

Thumb nickjames 20 November 2014, 15:06

So where are your comments praising Aoun? Or he didn't say anything worth commenting on? You're not surprised that he said it's him vs. Geagea?? It's because of Helou that he's been boycotting??? The general deceived you yet again Flamey

Default-user-icon Aoun (Guest) 20 November 2014, 18:26

"go shoot yourselves aounettes the sheep ! " Slah
How ill they are indeed!!!

Thumb nickjames 20 November 2014, 21:42

Stfu Flamey. That's why you spread orange propaganda left and right as if it's the truth. What he said in this interview (and all his other interviews) is a total disgrace. You're letting our BS slide?? Why, because you can't even refute any of my comments ridiculing Aoun?? He contradicts himself in the same sentence, please explain how anything he said in this interview makes sense.

Slash said it best:
First, he boycotts because Geagea was a candidate and he won't "run" against him.
Second, he boycotts because they need consensus, but Aoun is the only consensual candidate.
Third, he boycotts because he won't discuss anyone but himself.
Now he's boycotting because he wants only himself and Geagea to be candidates.

Please explain how you follow such a demented senile person who keeps making up new excuses everyday...

Thumb Machia 20 November 2014, 11:42

The country has been running quite sometimes without a President. This shows how useless this role is.
Moreover, who cares if the President is Maronite, Shia, Sunni, Budhist or Zorastrian. Who cares if any politician, bureaucrat or in fact any person is Druze, Orthodox, Alouite, Jain, atheist, gay or straight as long as she or he is honest and competent at what they do.
What we should focus on is our constitution and our culture that gives equal political, economic and social freedoms and rights to every citizen.
The rest is demagoguery and gives a platform to politicians to accumulate power and money.

Thumb Machia 20 November 2014, 11:48

The country has been running quite sometimes without a President. This shows how useless this role is.
Moreover, who cares if the President is Maronite, Shia, Sunni, Budhist or Zorastrian. Who cares if any politician, bureaucrat or in fact any person is Druze, Orthodox, Alouite, Jain, atheist, gay or straight as long as she or he is honest and competent at what they do.
What we should focus on is a constitution and a culture that give equal political, economic and social freedoms and rights to every citizen.
Today what we have in Lebanon is demagoguery and a system that gives politicians a sectarian platform to accumulate power and money without being accountable to our constitution and our laws.

Thumb Machia 20 November 2014, 11:56

We are in a better shape politically than most countries in the Middle East, including Israel with its racist culture, but we need develop ourselves as citizens and become much more scientific and enlightned in our approach to politics and economics.
This needs to be reflected in our already advanced education system but also in our Media who in general cater to our instincts instead of appealing to our minds.

Thumb -phoenix1 20 November 2014, 13:16

Please dear old man, do as you said and you will see on that day you will get your butt whipped clean by Hakim. Once and for all let's close this chapter and show the whole world that you are nothing but a charlatan only blindly bent on taking that seat. Yalla, let's vote and send you home for good. Eupht wloh, fala2etna.

Thumb cash.puppet 24 November 2014, 13:38

lol.

Thumb -phoenix1 20 November 2014, 21:20

Well said Accounts. The man not only left his wife and daughters but also his officers and soldiers who believed in him, as gullible as they were, many got killed in cold blood by the Syrians. Aoun also fled his obligations, leaving a country in taters and in complete hopelessness. Was he enemy to Syria then? I doubt it since now it shows how much affinity and affection he has for them. I know that I ma speak for myself here, but Aoun cannot be trusted for one of a thousand negative facts, that the man is a chronic and blatant, in fact the man lies right though his teeth.

Thumb nickjames 20 November 2014, 21:44

None of these guys are real leaders because they're still alive...Bashir was the only true leader because he died for independence.

Thumb Binar 06 December 2014, 23:34

wtf general !!! you are u afraid to loose against a third or a fourth candidate ????