Geagea: Our Allies Did Not Understand our Stance over Electoral Law
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea stated that his party is “playing a complicated political game” over the parliamentary electoral law, reported the Kuwaiti al-Anba daily Saturday.
He said: “Some of our allies did not understand our stance, but I will soon hold a press conference to discuss at length the details of the discussions over the new law.”
“The LF was misunderstood and it was wronged at different instances over its position,” he added.
“Discussions have however started to take their right course and we may reach an agreement over a new law that enjoys consensus over the next few days,” revealed Geagea.
“Should we fail to do so before March 20, then the term of the current parliament will be extended from a technical perspective, not a political one,” he explained.
Some March 14 alliance members were critical of the Lebanese Forces for its approval of the Orthodox Gathering parliamentary electoral law.
The proposal calls for dividing Lebanon into a single electoral district and allows each sect to vote for its own lawmakers under a proportional representation system.
The proposal also enjoys the support of the Christian Phalange Party, Free Patriotic Movement, and Marada Movement.
The draft-law has been rejected by President Michel Suleiman, Premier Najib Miqati, the Mustaqbal bloc, independent March 14 figures, and Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Jumblat, who all said that the proposal fuels sectarian divisions in Lebanon.
The ongoing dispute over a new electoral law is threatening to postpone the elections, which are scheduled for June 9.
Asked if he would have adopted the policy of disassociation from regional developments if he were president, Geagea responded: “Such a government as the current one would not exist had I been president.”
“The Syrian army is attacking its people with Scud missiles, fighter jets, and tanks,” he added.
“The government must therefore take the moral position over these developments, but given that the March 8 camp is controlling a number of ministries, some aid is being passed to the Syrian regime,” said the LF leader.
This was recently demonstrated by Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour at the Arab League when he suggested that Syria's seat at the League should be restored, Geagea stated.
“He acted like Syrian President Bashar Assad's foreign minister despite Suleiman's different position on Syria,” he added.
“Mansour was not attempting to deliver a message, but he simply wanted to stress that the Syrian regime still exists and it controls the whole situation in its country,” he said.
Asked if foreign diplomats had issued warnings that the fall of the Syrian regime would negatively affect Christians, he replied: “We never received such warnings. The survival of the regime will be worse on Christians in Lebanon and Syria than its collapse.”
Commenting on the impact of the Syrian crisis on Hizbullah, he noted: “This is the first time in seven years that the party is uncomfortable on all levels because Syria serves as its arms depot and training base.”
“No Hizbullah member or Shiite can now head to Syria,” he said.
“Hizbullah has lost a number of its weapons depots in Syria because it either cannot reach them or it was forced to empty them due to the ongoing crisis,” remarked the LF leader.
“The crisis is stretching on because Iran is supplying $500 million to a billion dollars to the regime. The crisis will continue as long as a single Iranian rial or Hizbullah member is able to fight in Syria,” he stressed.
Hizbullah has systematically denied sending fighters into Syria, though its leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah acknowledged in October 2012 that party members had fought Syrian rebels but said they were acting as individuals and not under the group's direction.
Recently, Louay al-Meqdad, spokesman for the Supreme Council of the Free Syrian Army, has accused Hizbullah of shelling Syrian territory with artillery and rocket launchers from bases inside Lebanon.
FSA chief of staff General Selim Idriss has threatened to shell positions of Hizbullah in Lebanon.
09 March 2013, 08:50
1116
Geagea may be playing a "complicated game" but his voters are simply moving to other parties.
Both the Auon and Geymael stand to benefit by Geagea's "game". Another betrayal by Geagea and he won't be a political player anymore.
09 March 2013, 09:01
1612
Power to the brave.... God protect hakim from the dark schemes of khamenei and his lebanse militia
09 March 2013, 10:14
1611
The expression فليحكم الأخوان was taken out of context and blown out of proportion by illiterates like you karim. You're just a miniature copy of Otv and Manar.. Pathetic, really.. You too brucelee..
09 March 2013, 10:20
1012
Fair enough Karim, it so happen then that Geagea is not alone in these things. For example Sayed Hassan will take his orders from two capitals, Tehran and Damascus, Michel Aoun as well, as do Nabih Berri, Jumblatt certainly a lot more, Frangieh from Damascus and occasionally from Tehran, Erslane from 2 capitals, I mean you look at it, all these blood drenched warlords, they all take orders from the outside. During the war, they shelled Geagea with real bombs, so dear Karim, should we expect him to return fire with flower? Today they still talk violent rhetoric, whereas Geagea talks peace and the upkeep of the law. I now believe that those like your good self who still dig into the archives of the past whenever Geagea appears here will do so because he remains the only one who has the balls to face your leaders.
10 March 2013, 03:06
00
right on rafi2. you see most of hakim's haters live in the past and don't know his real history. all the mistakes made by christian leaders are blamed on hakim.
bachir 7aye fena wel hakim 3am ye7mena
09 March 2013, 12:56
00
What Lebanese will have to choose between in Lebanon is real democracy for the future, or very much the opposite. Aoun and HA most certainly delivers the opposite alternative. Anyone who wants to argue that with logic will fail miserably.
The people in power (now and before) are corrupted with some more than others. Don't expect it to be cleaned up any time soon as it's way too deep rooted. Instead you need to ask yourself, would I like my country to be ruled like Western Europe or like Iran. That's the essence of your upcoming election. The Lebanese people rightfully deserves to get what they choose.
09 March 2013, 13:15
124
Honestly, I do not believe that most people on this site knows the difference between left and right wing politics! They are mostly interested interested in exchanging insults, "scoring points" where none can be made. Most could make use of joining a debate club to learn the basics - including civility.
09 March 2013, 13:36
107
the right wing is aoun because geagea and kataeb followed the orthodox law which was first backed by aoun, not the other way around.
Beatifly defined FT so hezb ssnp amal and the rest of m8 are all right wing ? Was that written too in the divine book ?
09 March 2013, 14:03
00
hmmm... i like left... why are we not doing left?? can we do left??
09 March 2013, 15:46
42
karim_m1
In a way we are happy that orangina has supporters like you. To a crazy leader stupid supporters.
09 March 2013, 17:33
22
Mouallek, don't give it a thought, let's just move on, no one stops a ship to buy bananas, right?
09 March 2013, 16:57
42
I like people who accuses Mustaqbel of WHBAISM. You need to to watch a documentary movie called :naderelkareh@yahoo have you ever known a persian cat. It shows the real face of iran. Iranian musicians getting 100 lashes for listing to rock and roll. Women being lashed for not wearing the vail. People kissing the hands of the security personnel asking for forgivness because they had an alcholic beverage. Hizballah is tryong to implement same culture in the southern suburbs where alcohol ans western music is prohibited. These are facts of the iranian -hixzballah regime.
09 March 2013, 18:01
30
You have Fallen into this ridicule racist electoral Law, Imagine if this Law was applied in the U.S.A , Latinos would vote for Latinos, blacks for blacks, whites for whites and so on.. this Law is a disgrace!! no matter what ur opinion is on the 1960 Law, who Aoun at the return from Qatar thought that it was a victory !! very confusing person.
09 March 2013, 19:23
22
It will take us another 100 tears to have the same mentality as US. So u can't cimpare. Totally different two worlds
10 March 2013, 02:58
21
Josh no one wants wahabism in lebanon. but if you think wahabism is extremist, think twice because hizballkah is way more extreme than sunnis. need to watch a movie documentary about the regime in iran . it is called as i remember: have you ever known a persian cat. it shows how free thinkers get 100 lashes for listnening to rock and roll. another a women get 250 lashes for not wearing the veil. another guy kissing the hands of an officer and begging him for forgivnrdd because he had a glass of wine. the same thing is in the southern suburbs. there is no alcohol, no western music, even haifa is considered kifar and all women wear veils. hizballah ulitmite goal is an islamic state
10 March 2013, 04:59
01
Shia throughout history never force anyone to convert to Islam or charge you, as Christian, a tax to live under their law. In Wahhabi land, you are infidel and if you are killed, no trial, by Shariah law will be conducted. In Iran, South Lebanon or Iraq, you may walk around as Christian woman and no one asked you a thing, Try that in Saudi, Kuwait or Tripoli AlTebaneh. In the history of Shia there was never a Fatwa to kill Christians or burning churches or targeting Christian. Well go check Libya now, Egypt, Iraq (Sunni Areas) or Aleppo or my city Damascus. I can keep on and on.. The bottom line is: Shiaa is co-existence; Wahhabi ( especially when they become poor) are eliminators
10 March 2013, 06:49
10
you are very right; Aoun is a fascist extremist whose hatred to muslims and power ambitions has blinded him totally. All he brought about was killing among christians, hatred against sunnis, alliance with a murderous regime, support for an armed militias challenging lebanese state authority, and big scale corruption thanks to his nicolas, gibran, and layoun (who is happy destroying all what is left of our heritage in return for cash).
10 March 2013, 07:06
10
What is it all about wahabism in Lebanon. How come suddenly we are taking about it as if it is present around every corner. Sunnis are moderate in lebanon and apart a few salafists running around, no political sunni force is calling for wahabism. Remember that it was under Saniora that Islamist were hard fought in Nahr el Bared while Aoun and Nasrallah were saying that Nahr el Bared is a red line.
Wahabism in Lebanon is an inflated issue blown out of proportion to justify the presence of Hizbullah and the Aoun/Hizbullah/Syrian/Iran alliance.
Referring to your historical comments about Shia and Sunnis, it is worth noting that Wahabism is a phenomena that took its strength in the 20th century thanks to El Saoud and oil money. Wahabism present mainly in Saudi is challenged by Salafism which is a reaction to the corruptions in the arab regimes on the one hand and a reaction to the backwardness of islamist society compared to Judeo Christian ones.
10 March 2013, 13:27
00
This "Wahhabi are foreign to Lebanon." and "Lebanese Sunni are moderate." And "nothing to fear of Sunnis in Lebanon." are all wishful thinking and naive. I grow up in a country, where Sunni, has 90% of the wealth of the country. Where Sunnis moderates catered to by Christians and Alwaites. The minute someone said "God is Great." All the Christian in my town becomes, all of the sudden, infidels. The Sunnis who are now the prosecutors in the Shariah law neighborhood were yesterday the friends. This country called Syria. And most hard line fighters are middle class becomes vicious and inhuman.
