Gemayel Says Won't Run for New Term as Kataeb Chief

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Kataeb Party chief Amin Gemayel announced Monday that he will not be running for a new term at the head of the party during its upcoming conference, as he urged the election of a Lebanese president who reflects “the Christian pulse.”

“I informed the members of the political bureau that I will not nominate myself for a new term at the helm of the party and the party's interest lies in the renewal of cadres,” Gemayel declared after the politburo’s weekly meeting in Saifi.

“We're in an urgent need for such developments that serve the interests of the party and the country,” he added.

Gemayel said the party's upcoming conference will seek to “develop the political and national agenda of the party, debate the internal affairs, and replace the heads of the political bureau and the departments as well as the party's president and his deputies.”

“The party is renewing itself and it is characterized with this democratic experience,” he added.

Gemayel, however, noted that he would continue to “follow up on the party's affairs and act as a watchful eye in order to preserve the party's heritage and struggle,” promising “support” for the new leadership.

Gemayel was the president of Lebanon from 1982 to 1988 and has been at the head of the Kataeb Party since February 2008.

Separately, the Kataeb chief commented on a meeting held earlier in the day with a delegation from MP Michel Aoun's Change and Reform bloc, noting that the two parties agreed to “maintain communication” during this period.

“Our proposal was taken into consideration and we promised to mull the (Free Patriotic) Movement's suggestions,” said Gemayel.

“We insisted that a president must be elected as soon as possible and that he must reflect the Christian pulse in light of the threats and difficulties that Christians are facing in Lebanon and the region,” he added.

“The meeting was positive and frank and we explored the delegation's viewpoint as we expressed our stance that the country cannot withstand long-term solutions or conflicting interpretations of the Lebanese political system and Constitution,” Gemayel went on to say.

On Friday, Aoun blamed the current political crisis on “the limitation of the presidential powers” after the Taef Accord and “the lack of participation by all the Lebanese factions” in the country's political life.

He called for choosing one of four solutions: a two-phased election of the president by the people, a popular referendum that is binding for parliament, a parliamentary vote for the “two most representative Maronite MPs”, or holding parliamentary polls based on a new and balanced electoral law before organizing the presidential vote.

Y.R.

M.T.

Comments 4
Thumb chrisrushlau 18 May 2015, 17:17

Is his son old enough to take on the responsibility?

Thumb -phoenix1 19 May 2015, 14:12

He should be a lot more responsible than you dear Chris.

Missing helicopter 19 May 2015, 02:28

Good move by Amin, it is time for the old guard to go away (including Gaegae, Aoun, Berri, Walid, last but not least NAsrallah and all those leading militant groups).
We need new blood whose only Ideology is Lebanon, its constitution, laws and the Public Service.

Thumb -phoenix1 19 May 2015, 14:14

Amin is bad luck, whatever he lays his hands on goes from gold to dust. let Amin go home and enjoy his retirement. Now ideally speaking, if Kataeb have a political bureau, then the new leader should be voted for, as of now this father to son transition should stop, let democracy start at home. I am saying this even as I see favor on Sami, but let a free vote be made and whoever wins, wins, simple.