Gemayel Slams Aoun, Says Adoption of 1960 Law 'Defeat for Christians'
Phalange Party MP Sami Gemayel lashed out at politicians on Saturday for submitting their candidacy based on the 1960 law, considering it as a “defeat for the Christians.”
“If we continue in this path then within 48-hours we will have to adopt the 1960 law, which will be a real defeat for all Christians,” Gemayel said in a press conference.
He lashed out at Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, who filed on Wednesday his candidacy to the upcoming elections, despite his strong objections over the adoption of the 1960 law.
Aoun argues that he wants to prevent any uncontested victories.
Gemayel described discussion over the adoption of a new electoral law as a “charade,” saying: “We are committing a crime. We should correct this historical mistake that we are all responsible for it.”
During a meeting held under Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi in Bkirki last month, Maronite leaders pledged that they would not run for elections under the law that was used in the 2009 polls.
The meeting was attended by Aoun, Marada movement chief Suleiman Franjieh, Phalange MP Sami Gemayel and LF MP George Adwan.
Although the Phalange was not part of the 403 candidates that have so far registered to run for the June polls, the other Christian parties made on Friday their registrations at the interior ministry in addition to al-Mustaqbal.
The Phalange seemed to be the only party standing out of the March 14 alliance.
He noted that the situation will remain the same in the country during the upcoming four years if the elections took place based on the 1960 law.
“We will bring the same faces to parliament through the adoption of the 1960 law, in fact we are extending the term of the current parliament by adopting this law,” the MP said.
Gemayel called on President Michel Suleiman, Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqat, Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn and Interior Minister Marwan Charbel to assume their national responsibilities and restore calm in the northern city of Tripoli.
“Why haven't officials imposed a curfew in the city... The government can't protect Tripoli.” the MP wondered.
He called on officials to dispute the lingering disputes before holding the elections, noting that the country is on the “edge of a civil war.”
At least 26 people were killed and around 204 others have been wounded in the fighting that erupted in Tripoli on Sunday.
The violence is tied to the conflict in Syria, where a Sunni-led uprising is fighting to overthrow the regime of President Bashar Assad, an Alawite.
The fighting in Tripoli, which has flared sporadically since the beginning of the Syria conflict in March 2011, has been largely confined to the two neighborhoods of Alawite Jabal Mohsen neighborhood against those in the adjacent Sunni Muslim Bab el-Tebbaneh district.
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