Aoun to Accept Any Electoral Law if President's Powers Returned to Way They Were Pre-Taif Accord

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun said on Thursday that the Bkirki meetings that were held between Christian leaders to reach an agreement over a new parliamentary electoral law found that the Orthodox Gathering law offers the best representation, followed by the law based on proportional representation.

He said: “I am ready to accept any electoral law on condition that the president's privileges be restored to what they were before the Taif Accord.”

“We will accept the Orthodox Gathering law and a weak Christian leader, but on condition that we acquire 64 lawmakers are parliament,” he added after the Change and Reform bloc's weekly meeting at Rabiyeh.

“The blackmail that has been going on since the Taif Accord must stop. There are some 24 Christian lawmakers who are not affiliated to me. Let them have them. I do not represent anyone. Let them accept the Orthodox Gathering law,” he declared.

“Let them explain to me why the Orthodox Gathering law was rejected,” Aoun demanded.

“I will not believe the excuse that it was rejected in defense of national unity. I alone am sacrificing 24 MPs in the name of unity,” he stressed.

Commenting on the case of refugees flooding Lebanon from Syria, Aoun said: “This issue is beyond humanitarian.”

“Arab countries that are funding and arming the rebels should halt the unrest in Syria and turn to dialogue,” he proposed.

“Lebanon does not have enough space for the refugees. We have not closed the border in their faces, but the country can no longer support their burden,” he noted.

Addressing some Tripoli Muslim clerics' call against Christmas celebrations, the MP declared: “Some of their statements are an ill omen and we have no room in our future for such calls.”

“Silence over this issue is worse than the silence over the armament of various groups. Murders and takfiri thinking contradict the teachings of Islam,” he added.

The Lebanese constitution speaks of the absolute freedom of belief and practice in Lebanon, he stressed.

The Koran also speaks against takfiris, he continued.

“Only God can act as our judge,” stressed Aoun.

Timeline
  • 03 January 2013, 17:55

    Aoun: Our patience is nearing its end with those tarnishing our image. Whoever wants to challenge us can meet us in court.

  • 03 January 2013, 17:53

    Aoun: How can Lebanon be in an economic crisis if foreign deposits increased by 7.5 percent?

  • 03 January 2013, 17:49

    Aoun: These employees are specialists in their field.

  • 03 January 2013, 17:49

    Aoun on the offshore oil and gas wealth: Instead of promising the Lebanese people that the economy will be nourished through this discovery, disputes erupted over the salaries of the employees of the Petroleum Authority.

  • 03 January 2013, 17:46

    Aoun: Various countries, including European ones, are suffering from poor economic growth. Lebanon is not an isolated country and it is bound to be affected by the poor global economy.

  • 03 January 2013, 17:45

    Aoun: No country that supports the Syrian revolution wants Lebanon to remain safe. Those countries brought takfiris to Lebanon.

  • 03 January 2013, 17:42

    Aoun: Some people who are ignorant in economics claim that the government impoverished Lebanon and prevented Arab tourists from traveling to the country.

  • 03 January 2013, 17:37

    Aoun: The case of refugees is beyond humanitarian.

  • 03 January 2013, 17:35

    Aoun: Arab and western countries should end the crisis in Syria, which will resolve the case of refugees whom Lebanon can no longer support.

  • 03 January 2013, 17:29

    Aoun on Syrian refugees: We support the policy of disassociation from the Syrian crisis. We still believe in dialogue with the Syrian opposition. We have stated from the start that the Syrian regime will not collapse.

  • 03 January 2013, 17:27

    Aoun: The Orthodox Gathering law should be adopted otherwise we would be forced to accept a weak Christian leader. The blackmail that has been going on since the Taif Accord should stop.

  • 03 January 2013, 17:22

    Aoun: The Lebanese Forces agreed to the Orthodox Gathering law and then the law on proportional representation as a second option approved by all Maronites.

  • 03 January 2013, 17:20

    Aoun on parliamentary electoral law: The meetings at Bkirki agreed that the Orthodox Gathering law is the best one, followed by the one based on proportional representation.

  • 03 January 2013, 17:15

    Aoun: If certain Muslim clerics objected to the presence of Christmas tree at the presidential palace, then why hasn't anyone objected to Ramadan iftars and Muslim prayers at the Grand Serail.

  • 03 January 2013, 17:13

    Aoun: The Koran stipulates that only God can be our judge regardless of our beliefs.

  • 03 January 2013, 17:12

    Aoun: I would not be bringing up this issue if it weren't for the silence of the majority over the rise of the takfiris.

  • 03 January 2013, 17:11

    Aoun: The Lebanese constitution speaks at length about the freedom of belief in Lebanon.

  • 03 January 2013, 17:10

    Aoun: We want to know the position of various Muslim leaders on the issue of takfiris.

  • 03 January 2013, 17:09

    Aoun: Remaining silent is worse than the armament of various groups in Lebanon.

  • 03 January 2013, 17:08

    FPM leader MP Michel Aoun after Change and Reform bloc's weekly meeting: We warn of the threat of takfiris in Lebanon and the threat they pose to Christians.

SourceNaharnet
Comments 67
Missing gabby12 03 January 2013, 17:28

Cukoo.....cukoo....the pajama general is speaking. No one is listening.

Thumb jabal10452 03 January 2013, 21:57

Well I am listening. He is my political opponent but he represent a very big slice of the Christian population. I must listen and figure out how we improve the situation of the country, together.

Thumb bigsami 03 January 2013, 17:36

Back to back buffoons making headline news on naharnet. Must be short of news with substance I see. Oh well....good bathroom reading if anything.

Missing helicopter 03 January 2013, 17:55

The rise of the takfiris is definitely a bad thing and is the direct result of the hard core policy M8 followed resulting in assassinations of M14 leaders, weakening of the moderates within M14 and the dismantling of State institutions and irrelevance of its army and security apparatus. The solution has always been the same, remove all illegal arms and strengthen the State and the Democratic process.

Missing rudy 03 January 2013, 18:01

I have to say reading the article makes him sound much more eloquent. I actually watched this one live and he can barely make a sentence. He was just blurting out words.

Thumb geha 03 January 2013, 18:08

the guy has lost his north :)
the real internal threat is hizbushaitan backed by iran and has weakened Lebanon morally and economically.
pushing sunnis towards extremism to justify their existence, killing moderate ones so they are replaced by extremists. this is what hizbushaitan has been doing.
threatening arabs and turks so they empty the country from all tourists, kidnappings, stealing, false drugs, hegemony on the revenues of the port and casino du Liban among others is what is weakening the country, without forgetting not paying their electricity bills.

Thumb lebnanfirst 03 January 2013, 18:47

I agree with @rudy. While most of his points are useless, the few that do make sense are lost in the incoherence reflected in his remarks. Even the article reflects the fact that the man can no longer maintain a coherent train of thought.

Thumb lebnanfirst 04 January 2013, 01:37

@FlameThrower

I did watch the video and read the full text on tayyar.org believing that your suggestion was fair.

That said, now I stand by my original comment even stronger than before. While Aoun has some good points, his rambling and utterly confrontational attitude and style looses him all the valid issues he may have.

Little wonder the man was never able to garner support for his presidency bid even from his political allies. My guess is he never will either simply because he is not presidential material simply a self serving political idiot, no more no less.

Thumb lebnanfirst 04 January 2013, 09:11

@FlameThrower
You argue simply for the sake of argument and most of the time you make no sense because you have blinders on either side of your head that prevent you from seeing the whole picture.

Even an idiot makes sense some of the time. The point is that Aoun does not have what it really takes to be a leader of the Christians let alone all of Lebanon. His style reflects the workings of his inner mind and as such is way sub-par. One could go on and on...

You FT have the M14 fixation syndrome, get off your rocker and get a life.

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 04 January 2013, 11:39

might want to learn how to spell check the word if you dont know how to spell it...

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 04 January 2013, 13:31

wlak ya kbeer... you are the last person who wants a new group.. please tell will this middle group approve of the weapons in HA hands???
will this new group support the govt or opposition in syria??
will this new group be pro-iranian or pro-west? since according to you the supporter of one is a traitor and the other a liberator..
i do not hang on every word the general says ... i laugh at his senile mind.. and his lack of values and principles.. how cheap his soul has become... he will be remembered as nothing more than a failure at everything he did... a general.. a fake prime minister.. and horrible christian leader.. if you want to take that as me being fixated on him.. by all means go ahead..

Default-user-icon demented and sad but social (Guest) 03 January 2013, 18:51

"Aoun: Our patience is nearing its end..." funny that resembles so much what the doctors treating him at the lunatic asylum said about him "Our patient is nearing his end.." so expect him to make less sense as time goes on.

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 04 January 2013, 13:46

hahaha

Thumb bigsami 03 January 2013, 19:01

What's even funnier is that both have this habit of using finger gestures....Hassan with his finger up and this clown with a circle....and put them together you have a match made in hell! LOL

Missing allouchi 03 January 2013, 21:22

Who let him out on a Thursday ???

Thumb bigsami 03 January 2013, 21:35

Kaa Kaa Karim aka BSThrower and of course the wahabi master ASSistance with the same usual rhetoric! Get a life you Farsi! Your fighting/killing Lebanese in the name of Iran! Traitors!

Missing mohammad_ca 03 January 2013, 21:40

shias follow marji3s and wilayat elfaqih. your second point simply confirms that tayyar is too afraid of posting the other point of view.

Thumb jabal10452 03 January 2013, 21:53

I second that. I am sensing a greater will to compromise from both the FPM and Hezbollah (Nasrallah's latest speech) and we need to encourage this instead of spewing derision on everything they say.

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 03 January 2013, 22:00

Aoun: How can Lebanon be in an economic crisis if foreign deposits increased by 7.5 percent?

what an absolute loser... the increase of 7.5% as you claim is because of the high interest rate.. people make more bang for the buck... if the economy in Lebanon is doing fin the interest rate will be lowered..
now go blame your HA buddies for the lack of economic prosperity..

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 04 January 2013, 09:51

wa7yet Allah.. you really need an education.. and this from a guy who supposedly owns his own business.. what is Switzerland based on??? how about Dubai??? (who only 6% of their economy depends on oil) one can survive on services and banking.. and it has been Lebanons bread and butter even before Hariri was born.. zakzak inta... there has NEVER been stability in the middle east.. not sure which part of the middle east you are talking about...

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 04 January 2013, 13:37

dubai was shaken... but did not go to the point of bankruptcy.. how did i dodge the issue?? i was answering you word for word.. wlak ya 3mi wtf is wrong with your head/???

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 03 January 2013, 22:02

Aoun on the offshore oil and gas wealth: Instead of promising the Lebanese people that the economy will be nourished through this discovery, disputes erupted over the salaries of the employees of the Petroleum Authority

how about we pay them when we are actually getting something from the oil sector.. do not come and justify insane salaries for something we will not get a return on for at least 5-10 years.

Thumb geha 04 January 2013, 08:11

a few numbers:
- 8 persons are hired for a period of at least 8 years before there is the smallest return at US$17000 ? (is this correct?)
- this produces US$13,056,000 without any return.

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 04 January 2013, 09:55

we are not a private company .. we are a country that is unable to get out of debt.. so paying ridiculous salaries whoever agreed to it..is wrong.. until the state starts earning something.
The people are going to get payed BEFORE actual money pours into the state no?? THOSE two points are what i am referring to... i cant believe i am explaining this to an imbecile... you are an imbecile arnt you?

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 04 January 2013, 13:40

so by asking for fiscal responsibility i akm a commie?? wlak we are in Lebanon ya 2aflaton... pay them a million dollars a month and there will still be corruption.. and why are you arguing when i said when work begins too and money starts pouring in.. i am against paying them a dime for 7 years before ANYTHING is done.. why do you have an issue with this ya state builder.

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 04 January 2013, 18:07

i am outraged at their salary for sure.. 18,000 dollars (which i believe is what was set.. is an insane salary in Lebanon.. why do bank managers make 5000 dollars in lebanon while they make oodles more outside.. is this communism? so why do we have to pay these guys the international standard of payment and other professions are spit on???
please show me where i said they should earn what a Mcdonalds worker earns...

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 03 January 2013, 22:02

Aoun on the offshore oil and gas wealth: Instead of promising the Lebanese people that the economy will be nourished through this discovery, disputes erupted over the salaries of the employees of the Petroleum Authority

how about we pay them when we are actually getting something from the oil sector.. do not come and justify insane salaries for something we will not get a return on for at least 5-10 years.

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 03 January 2013, 22:04

Aoun: Various countries, including European ones, are suffering from poor economic growth. Lebanon is not an isolated country and it is bound to be affected by the poor global economy.

now that the economic bite is sinking its teeth you say that... please note that the economic crisis started in 2007-2008... and until YOU and you HA allies took control of the state the global recession did not affect Lebanon.

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 04 January 2013, 09:59

please refer to our central bank governors discussions in 2007-2008 and how he said the recession will not affect us.. and note the change in tone after you and your whip crackers took over.. what now you are telling me to believe YOU over a man who has received international recognition for his policies???
3a asess the your economic policies changed anything about the land or the petrol (which had VAT under the past govt.)

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 03 January 2013, 22:06

Aoun: No country that supports the Syrian revolution wants Lebanon to remain safe. Those countries brought takfiris to Lebanon.

wlak the jig is up ya demented general.. the takfiris are nothing but a Syrian made phenomenon .. Smaha was caught trying to exploit you takfiri logic... as far as i know there is not a single shred of evidence that proves that SA who want Lebanon as their las vegas has ever imported takfiri ideology.. it is those that you kiss the booty of.. take it up with Assad.. oh sorry.. hes busy.

Thumb geha 04 January 2013, 08:11

and shia extremism does not exist :)

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 04 January 2013, 10:01

are you ever going to read and learn to comprehend??? i did not say there are no takfiris in lebanon.. but that the idea is being exploited by your boss... and that there is no evidence that "those who support the syrian revolution" are exporting it to lebanon..
wlak il 3ama.. hal2ad majdoob and cant read??

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 04 January 2013, 10:02

and ditto to what geha said.

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 04 January 2013, 13:49

and when alcohol stores are blown up in the heart of hizbi land.. then it is affecting us... twat..

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 04 January 2013, 18:10

really? ive been flipping on many channels and no one is obsessed with takfiris as much as the m8 propaganda machine... again.. if you have a problem with takfiris (and lets assume the exist in the vast numbers you say) well they have a problem with the shias and their dictation of life in lebanon.. and??? as much as takfiris are the boogeyman to you.. HA is to us..

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 03 January 2013, 22:08

Aoun: Some people who are ignorant in economics claim that the government impoverished Lebanon and prevented Arab tourists from traveling to the country.

yes everyone is ignorant but you.. ya Eisenstein of the modern world... why should the GCC who constitute our entire GDP (almost) sow mercy on you and your allies who curse them out on a daily basis???

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 04 January 2013, 10:03

im talking about tourism...the majority of tourism dollars is spent by GCC countries.. wlak i give up.. fik 3aneh ba2a.. i cant handle arguing with a complete waste of oxygen.

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 03 January 2013, 22:14

Aoun: Arab and western countries should end the crisis in Syria, which will resolve the case of refugees whom Lebanon can no longer support.

Why dont you talk to you illegitimate homeboy and ask him to relinquish power which will end the crisis which will resolve the case of refugees whom Lebanon can no longer support?

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 04 January 2013, 10:07

wlak ya sidon...dont bother.. mastoooooool

Missing peace 03 January 2013, 22:16

"both forms of islam are much more fanatical than christianity"

entirely false... have a look at history and see how fanatical christians were, have a look at the same period and see how moderate and open minded islam was...
"shiism is a mild islam?" lol it is a different form but can be radical, see your iranian friends and hezbis!
it all depends on the religious people to decide how radical the religion should be...

both can be moderate as both can be radical it all depends if you mix it with politics or not!!!

but as in the middle east they mix religion with politics, you will inevitably find radicalism when it is not written in any religion!!

so do not mix things, religion does not bear radicalism, it is the men who make it radical or not!!!!

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 03 January 2013, 22:16

Aoun on Syrian refugees: We support the policy of disassociation from the Syrian crisis. We still believe in dialogue with the Syrian opposition. We have stated from the start that the Syrian regime will not collapse.

wlak yikhrabayt 2abook.. you said that Assad would have crushed the opposition 2 junes ago.. now you say you always supported dialogue??
and before you point fingers outward.. point them toward your allies who are interfering in the syrian crisis before anyone else did.

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 04 January 2013, 10:10

an falsely elected president is now legitimate... i dont care about the countries... i am talking about the people...
so because HA is their ally they can help.. well a ragtag of al nusra, libyan mercenaries, CIA operatives and qaeda, sprinkled with aussie freelancers and french secret servies are now allies of the opposition... and have a right to help.

Missing peace 03 January 2013, 22:16

"both forms of islam are much more fanatical than christianity"

entirely false... have a look at history and see how fanatical christians were, have a look at the same period and see how moderate and open minded islam was...
"shiism is a mild islam?" lol it is a different form but can be radical, see your iranian friends and hezbis!
it all depends on the religious people to decide how radical the religion should be...

both can be moderate as both can be radical it all depends if you mix it with politics or not!!!

but as in the middle east they mix religion with politics, you will inevitably find radicalism when it is not written in any religion!!

so do not mix things, religion does not bear radicalism, it is the men who make it radical or not!!!!

Default-user-icon Lebanese (Guest) 03 January 2013, 22:16

Question: Has the Shiites bombed churches? Assaulted Priests? Murdered Christians, whether in Lebanon or even Iraq? This isn't a Sunni/Shiite problem, there is a real threat from the salafi/wahabi/takfiri groups and you right-wingers are allied with them. This is the fact.

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 03 January 2013, 22:17

Aoun: The Orthodox Gathering law should be adopted otherwise we would be forced to accept a weak Christian leader. The blackmail that has been going on since the Taif Accord should stop

then why didnt you pass the orthodox gathering proposal in parliament and yielded to you masters proposal of 13 districts?

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 04 January 2013, 10:12

he didnt even give them a chance to vote on it... if they agreed to the orthodox proposal in Bkirki FIRST...why did he vote for the 13 districts... concentrate ya FT...

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 03 January 2013, 22:18

Aoun: The Lebanese Forces agreed to the Orthodox Gathering law and then the law on proportional representation as a second option approved by all Maronites

they did agree to proportional representation.. but not on 13 districts... 50 districts based on proportional representation is still proportional representation..

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 03 January 2013, 22:19

Aoun on parliamentary electoral law: The meetings at Bkirki agreed that the Orthodox Gathering law is the best one, followed by the one based on proportional representation.

again .. why is the one you voted for NOT the orthodox law????

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 04 January 2013, 10:13

ya Allaaaaaaaaaaaah..if they agreed in bkirki then they agreed.. and he needed to pass that law .. he foresaw the refusal of the LF??? yes because he foresees everything so well.

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 03 January 2013, 22:20

Aoun: If certain Muslim clerics objected to the presence of Christmas tree at the presidential palace, then why hasn't anyone objected to Ramadan iftars and Muslim prayers at the Grand Serail.

i finally agree with you on one point.

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 03 January 2013, 22:21

Aoun: We want to know the position of various Muslim leaders on the issue of takfiris.

why should the position on believers of Wahhabism be any different than those who believe in wilayet al faqi7?? hypocrite

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 04 January 2013, 10:17

as i said Sidon... triko.. khalas he is configured... while i state there is no difference between the two.. he just wants to attack one because he is conditioned to... if Aoun flips today this principle lacking goon will flip flop with him... after all he was a aouni when aoun was in france and had a different set of principles..

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 04 January 2013, 13:45

now sing it with me... THANK YOU SYRIA!!!! i am sure if you ask Rafic Hariri if he would have rather had a country with no militia like HA he would have stated the same thing we all are saying.. all arms should be in the hands of the state.. but with syria holding a gun to his head.. he had to make do with what he had.

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 04 January 2013, 18:12

Rafic had nothing against the shia.. and provided fully paid trips through universities to many of them.. but again i and i hope you get this through the barrier you call a skull.. he HAD to shut up about the weapons because of Syria...

Missing peace 03 January 2013, 23:41

bravo! as usual you nailed him by showing how illogic and demented he is thus his followers too!

Default-user-icon God (Guest) 04 January 2013, 00:45

Not very bloody likely, I don't bless cowards!

Missing peace 04 January 2013, 01:26

seems Ft is having his periods... can t stand anyone criticizing his stupid master, seems he's in love with him, so cuty Ft...
FT the FPM gay

Missing cedars 04 January 2013, 03:36

Who created the very first extremist group under the name of Imperialism and attacked the American Embassy in Beirut and French/Americans paratroopers/marines? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983_Beirut_barracks_bombing.
Anyone remembers Al-Damour Massacre? Where did Al-Sa3eka come from and got trained by what regime? Why is Hizbollah considered a terrorist organization? (hint: plane hijackings such as TWA847). Let us admit that HA were the masters of extremism by facts.

Missing mohammad_ca 04 January 2013, 03:43

In Sunni Islam you can choose what you want to take from either shyookh, in shiism you MUST follow what your marji3 tells you, how is that "less" radical. I know you SAID it but you didn't explain it at all. Speaking of BS you actually contradicted what you said above with this comment.

Default-user-icon Josh (Guest) 04 January 2013, 08:01

Sunnies blows themselves up to kill whether in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and on Sep11. Shiaa on the otherhand, NEVER commit sucide bombing. tell me who is the fantic here. and by the way, I am a sunni

Thumb hanibaal 04 January 2013, 09:16

"I alone am sacrificing 24 MPs in the name of unity." Mr. Aoun speaks with flippancy as if the MP's were lead soldiers in his toy drawer. Though he manages to make valid points at times, these points are drowned in a sea of incoherence (old age?), undermined by apologia for the indefensible Syrian autocracy and sullied by a perverse fixation with self. We are in dire need of a new generation of leaders in Lebanon! These nepotistic zaims need to go the way of the dodo bird and make way to forward thinking servants of the public.....

Thumb hanibaal 04 January 2013, 09:16

...... March 8 and March 14 (brothers of the same nation!) gouge each other at the behest of external powers. If only we did away with these two groups named after the Roman God of War and replaced them with a November 22 movement, nobody could touch Lebanon. One can dream... And yet if we look at our history, dating back to the Canaanites, we see no significant evolution beyond petty, myopic feudalism. At least today we have cool monochromatic flags to beat each other over the heads with.

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 04 January 2013, 09:48

defamation ( and i will educate you on the spelling of that) cases are being won by everyone cause everyone defames the other.. how many have been won against aoun??? wow.. give the guy a medal.

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 04 January 2013, 10:06

and there we have it people.. FT solved the entire thing... everyone thank him for his comical relief...
GCC now wants to go vacation in europe... they are done with lebanon so they demolish it... when they are done with europe they will demolish it with takfiris as well.. hahaha

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 04 January 2013, 10:46

hasoon has been hiding for a while... we're waiting..

Missing peace 04 January 2013, 11:34

when one reads your posts, he is struck by the lack of arguments or substance... all you do is insult, but proving the other one wrong is something you can t do... seems you do not have enough neurones for that...

you are just a nothing, one more....

Thumb andre.jabbour 04 January 2013, 11:53

Political tricks and traps aside, the most shocking this in his speech is about giving us religion lessons. He's no christian in the first place, seriously... it's the joke of 2013.