Aoun: 1960 Law Will Impose Itself on Us, Extension is Unconstitutional

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun on Monday noted that the 1960 electoral law “will impose itself on us,” rejecting the extension of parliament's term.

“I don't have a choice and something will impose itself on us and in this case it is the 1960 law, as extension is unconstitutional,” Aoun said during an interview on MTV.

“Why don't we resort to the people if we fail to reach an agreement? Let us hold elections and let people choose their governors,” he added.

Aoun stressed that extending parliament's term is not useful, adding that he wants to return to the "constitutional rules."

"If we fail to agree we should resort to a vote in parliament," he said.

The parliamentary electoral subcommittee failed on Monday to reach an agreement over a new electoral law and Speaker Nabih Berri is yet to set a date for a new session.

Failure to reach consensus over an electoral law has raised fears of a political vacuum in Lebanon. In absence of consensus, the other two alternatives are holding the polls according to the 1960 law or extending the term of the current parliament.

But Aoun noted that the “balance of power is not behind the stalemate we're witnessing today.”

“We rather formed a bloc with the aim of voting for a certain draft law (Orthodox Gathering proposal) and we're holding onto it and it has not yet been dropped,” Aoun added.

Under the controversial law proposed by the Orthodox Gathering, each sect would elect its own lawmakers according to a proportional representation system.

“The Lebanese Forces said that they would return to the Orthodox law if the choice is between extension and the 1960 law, so let them join us in the session,” Aoun said.

“The draft law proposed by the LF is not consensual, does not contain fairness or justice and does not secure proper representation for Christians,” he added.

Last week, al-Mustaqbal bloc, the Lebanese Forces, MP Walid Jumblat’s National Struggle Front and March 14 alliance's independent lawmakers proposed a hybrid draft law, under which 46 percent of MPs would be elected based on proportional representation and 54 percent under the winner-takes-all system.

Under the same proposal, Lebanon would be divided into 26 districts and six governorates. But the members of the subcommittee who are part of the Hizbullah-led March 8 alliance expressed reservations on it along with March 14's Phalange Party.

Caretaker Energy and Water Minister Jebran Bassil "studied the hybrid law in Maarab and we did not accept this proposal," Aoun said.

"We're keen on the proper representation of all the components of the Lebanese people, but a major usurpation of our rights happened in 2005," Aoun went on to say.

Commenting on the latest war of words between the FPM and LF leader Samir Geagea, Aoun said: "Who tried to turn the discussion from a debate over the electoral law into discussing the memories of the past?"

“Aounists consider that they were the attacked party and I consider that we have left the verbal attacks behind us,” Aoun added.

“We're against extension and against the 1960 law and my stance is clear and straightforward and I won't boycott elections if the Orthodox law was not passed,” he noted.

“I was seeking a draft law for the sake of Christians and the LF's dispute is not with the FPM, but rather with Christians. We told them that we're willing to abandon our allies and asked them if they're willing to do the same, but we did not sense that they had the same determination,” Aoun explained.

He claimed that “all the studies that happened were aimed at giving al-Mustaqbal Movement the parliamentary majority.”

“I'm demanding constitutional rights and they are the ones violating the constitution through the previous laws. Equal power-sharing is equal power-sharing and they can't follow a mechanism that does not grant us our full rights and only the Orthodox law would restore our full rights,” Aoun said.

“I'm not to blame if al-Mustaqbal and the PSP have agreed to steal the rights of Christians,” he added.

He accused President Michel Suleiman and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati of causing political vacuum in the country, stressing that “the premier cannot obstruct a law that is issued by parliament.”

Criticizing Suleiman for announcing that he would resort to the Constitutional Council to challenge the constitutionality of the Orthodox Gathering draft law if it was passed by parliament, Aoun said: “The president is biased when he uses his powers in advance against parliament and against Christians, and it is not for him to decide whether the law is constitutional or not.”

“We told the president that we're willing to help him but he did not show any cooperation and today he has to learn the norms of good governance,” Aoun said.

“Of course we will submit our nominations as a precaution and I have already said that we will attend the session even if the Orthodox law was dropped. The alternative in the session is the 1960 law, so what can we do, it is inevitable,” Aoun said in response to a question.

Turning to the issue of the cabinet formation process, Aoun said: “They have put conditions in a manner that allows them to control the cabinet."

He noted that "the March 14 camp shunned Miqati's cabinet because they were awaiting the regional developments, but (Syrian President Bashar) Assad did not fall, so they decided to return to cabinet."

Slamming the so-called centrist politicians, Aoun said: "Who is centrist among them? What kind of centrism is this? Centrism is March 14 in disguise and it would be foolish to try what has already been tried. The president is not a centrist and I insist that he is not a centrist."

"We want 11 ministers, given our political weight, and they want to give us 8 ministers. Speaking of shares for the premier and the president is not a right thing because it is not a charity and each party's share must be proportional to the number of its MPs," Aoun stressed.

Separately, Aoun denied the presence of a dispute with his ally MP Suleiman Franjieh, noting that "the relation with Franjieh is good and normal and rumors blow news out of proportion."