Aoun Says Khalil's Words 'Impolite', Amal's Opposition 'Detrimental' to Country

President Michel Aoun described MP Ali Hassan Khalil’s words as “impolite and not true,” when the latter said there are two presidents in Lebanon.

“Every word he uttered is a lie,” Aoun said in a press interview.

He added that “they are mixing between the Republic’s president and the Free Patriotic Movement’s president.”

“I am the President of the country, (Jebran) Bassil is president of the biggest parliamentary bloc. I manage the country’s affairs, he manages the party’s affairs,” Aoun stated.

“They hate him because I have raised him and like me, he refuses to bargain,” the president said.

On another note, Aoun claimed that Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri’s opposition since he was voted President has been “detrimental” to the country and has disrupted many draft laws proposed by the FPM.

“His ministers are refusing to attend Cabinet sessions,” Aoun added. “Disrupting the government is a grave mistake, and no party has the right to do so.”

Aoun went on to say that he wanted to replace Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh but it was Khalil, back then minister of finance, who asked him to discuss Salameh’s term extension in Cabinet.

He said that “if we fail to conduct a forensic audit, I will say what is obstructing it and I will name the ones who stole the people’s money.”