Aoun Calls for Preparing for 'Fateful Battle', Says Never 'Begged' for Political Seats

Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Michel Aoun on Tuesday called for preparing for what he described as a “fateful battle,” stressing that his objectives have always been “patriotic” and not aimed at garnering political seats.

“I have asked you to prepare for a fateful battle and don't think that this is a transient issue,” said Aoun after the weekly meeting of the Change and Reform bloc, addressing the Lebanese people.

“We will go until the end. Yesterday they said that I'm 'the son of the political system' and that I wouldn't disrupt it. I'm the son of the state, not the system, for the state is the nation and its institutions while the system is the way institutions are being run,” Aoun explained.

He lamented that “the state is being harmed because the laws are not being respected.”

“I tried to enter the political system but I couldn't 'find it,'” Aoun noted.

He also denied as “baseless” media reports alleging that Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi had called him to advise him against organizing street protests.

Addressing the dispute on the work of the cabinet, Aoun pointed out that Article 62 of the Constitution stipulates that the president's powers would be “delegated to the cabinet in the event of a presidential void.”

“But today the ministers are breaching this jurisdiction and the premier has assumed two roles -- his role and the role of the president -- and this is unacceptable,” he added.

“We want our firm right and we won't allow that it be encroached on. We want a law that endorses equal (Christian-Muslim) power-sharing and proper representation, because this is the only way to rectify the course of the political system,” Aoun went on to say.

Turning to parliament, the FPM leader underlined that a legislature elected in 2009 “cannot remain like this.”

“Let us at least survey the people and know what they want. It would be a mistake for this majority to remain in parliament and elect the new president,” he added.

As a suggestion to resolve the presidential deadlock, Aoun had recently proposed organizing a survey to determine which Christian party or parties are the most influential in the country.

“We must respect the chronological order of producing power institutions -- first parliamentary elections then a presidential vote,” he said on Tuesday.

Hitting back at critics accusing him of seeking personal and family gains, Aoun said: “I tell all the 'dwarfs' who are talking now that our objectives have always been patriotic.”

“We have never begged for political seats and we don't care about the presidency but rather about the country,” he added.

“Michel Aoun stood alone in the face of the Syrians while others were 'crawling.' Today they are saying that I want to appoint my son-in-law as army chief, not (Commando Regiment commander) Chamel Roukoz, whose name is known by the entire country,” Aoun said.

Reminiscing the 1990-2005 period, Aoun said some political parties wanted to “delay” his return from his French exile.

“And they tried to isolate us in the elections through the four-party alliance,” he added.

“In the period of the 2007 presidential elections, they asked me to abandon Hizbullah to be elected president and I refused and told them that national unity is more important than the presidency,” Aoun went on to say.

The FPM is pushing for the government to discuss the appointment of high-ranking military and security officials and Aoun has been lobbying for the appointment of Roukoz, his son-in-law, as army chief.

Last week, the cabinet failed to tackle the issue and widened the divide among its different parties and further disputes are threatening Thursday's cabinet session.

The plan to hold the protests hinges on the session's outcome, FPM officials have said.

Baabda has been vacant since President Michel Suleiman's six-year term ended in May last year.

Y.R.