Chamoun Asks 'Aged' Aoun to Prove Eligibility for Presidency
Member of Parliament Dory Chamoun, alluded to the founder of the Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun without naming him and said that old people are usually requested to submit a health record when they wish to sell a piece of property or apply to governmental positions, let alone if they apply to the post of presidency.
“If somebody wants to sell a piece of property and he is above 80 years of age, he is usually requested to submit a medical certificate stating qualification of carrying out such an operation, let alone if he is a candidate for the presidency,” said Chamoun in a statement he made after a parliament session to elect a president that failed to achieve quorum.
“When my father-- late President of Lebanon Camille Chamoun-- was a president, he used to work for more than 14 hours a day. Today the candidate for the presidency must prove eligibility to work for 10 hours consecutively,” added Chamoun.
His remarks triggered dismay of an OTV station reporter, affiliated to Aoun, she replied: “Don't you think the same applies to you. Shame. This is not politics, this is a personal remark.”
Aoun, aged 81, has lately passed the leadership of the Free Patriotic Movement to his son-in-law Jebran Bassil.
Aoun stopped making public appearances months ago and reports have said that he prefers to maintain silence until the political parties agree on his election for the presidential post.
Lebanon has been without a president since the term of Michel Suleiman ended in May 2014 and Hizbullah, Aoun's Change and Reform bloc and some of their allies have been boycotting the parliament's electoral sessions, stripping them of the needed quorum.
Hariri, who is close to Saudi Arabia, launched an initiative in late 2015 to nominate Franjieh for the presidency but his proposal was met with reservations from the country's main Christian parties as well as Hizbullah.
Hariri's move prompted Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea to endorse the nomination of Aoun, his long-time Christian rival, after months of political rapprochement talks between their two parties.
The supporters of Aoun's presidential bid argue that he is more eligible than Franjieh to become president due to the size of his parliamentary bloc and his bigger influence in the Christian community.
Source: Naharnet
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