Aoun Says he Would Meet Geagea but Refuses to Make Compromises on Presidency
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun confirmed that he would hold unconditional talks with his rival Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea but refused to give up his candidacy for the presidential post.
Aoun told al-Akhbar daily in an interview published on Thursday that he would meet with Geagea when the LF chief returns from his visit to Riyadh.
The FPM leader denied that there was a mediation to bring the presidential candidates closer.
But said a person close to the LF contacted him to “talk about some issues but nothing practical has happened yet.”
Asked whether the person is an independent political figure, Aoun said: “He is from the LF but I can't reveal his name.”
Aoun, who heads the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc, did not confirm whether the talks between him and Geagea have an agenda.
“I will tell him what I've got if we meet,” he told al-Akhbar.
The MP hoped that the differences between the rival Christian parties on the presidential post would dissipate when the meeting between him and Geagea takes place.
“We will definitely deal with the presidential file but it will be one of the topics” of discussion, he stated.
Lebanon has been without a president since May because of differences between the March 8 and 14 alliances on a compromise candidate.
The March 8 camp is holding onto Aoun's candidacy while its rivals in the March 14 coalition are backing Geagea. Their dispute has caused a lack of quorum in more than a dozen electoral rounds.
President Michel Suleiman's six-year term ended on May 25.
Asked whether he and Geagea could agree on a third candidate to fill the vacuum at Baabda Palace, Aoun said: “No one can come and tell me 'I don't want you'.”
“We could disagree on the presidency but agree on other things,” he said.
“I am a candidate and I will not vote for anyone or give up (my candidacy) to anyone,” he stressed.
“I will not approve any president for many reasons,” Aoun said. “I want a Republic and not president.”
“I don't want a Republic without a Constitution, laws and institutions,” he added.
Aoun accused the March 14 alliance of paralyzingly the presidential elections, saying it wants to “impose” a president on the rest of the Lebanese.
He also refused to be held responsible for the vacuum at the country's top Christian post although the members of his Change and Reform bloc are among the majority of lawmakers who have caused a lack of quorum in parliamentary sessions aimed at electing a president.
G.K.
H.K.
18 December 2014, 08:38
412
it is either he is a major traitor to the Lebanese Christians, destroying what is left from the Christian presence in the country, or, he is a person that has a huge ego that is not allowing him to see how destructive he is and has been so far.
as usual he attacks others of what he is doing: he boycotts the presidential elections and accuses others of doing it and trying to impose a president, while he is doing just that.
I pity those who still believe in this guy.
18 December 2014, 09:04
410
"it is either he is a major traitor to the Lebanese Christians, destroying what is left from the Christian presence in the country, or, he is a person that has a huge ego that is not allowing him to see how destructive he is and has been so far. "
He is BOTH: a traitor with an unjustifiable huge ego.
18 December 2014, 08:41
39
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun confirmed that he would hold unconditional talks with his rival Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea but refused to give up his candidacy for the presidential post.
Aoun is willing to hold "Unconditional" talks..... however, there is a "but" in it... LOL
18 December 2014, 09:05
38
“I will not approve any president for many reasons,” Aoun said. “I want a Republic and not president.”
We know you want the republic all for yourself, Jeddo. We're just surprised it took you so long to say that...
18 December 2014, 09:06
38
Is he fit for the presidency? He will get rid of the Taif Accord which stipulates equality between Muslims and Christians and means replacing it with a measure that stipulates a three-way-power-sharing system between Christians, Sunnis and Shiites (Hezbcocaine) and granting the Shiites the right to veto any national decision. 100% what ASSad and Iran wishes.
18 December 2014, 09:11
27
Asked whether he and Geagea could agree on a third candidate to fill the vacuum at Baabda Palace, Aoun said: “No one can come and tell me 'I don't want you'.”
At his advanced age, his health has declined, his dementia has set in, but his ego is still the same. So tragic...
18 December 2014, 09:13
27
Aoun accused the March 14 alliance of paralyzingly the presidential elections, saying it wants to “impose” a president on the rest of the Lebanese.
We already know that Jeddo, I mean March 14 has only been boycotting for the last 7 months...
18 December 2014, 09:35
39
because we are our own worse enemies, always been always will.
18 December 2014, 09:51
27
This man is the one who is destroying the Christians. His appetite for power and his supermegalomania makes him very sick...what can we expect from someone who says : "If they don't elect me, I will destroy everything and they will be forced to elect me"? Is it not what he is doing? Is he not the enemy from within?
18 December 2014, 10:04
37
I feel BAD for the people that believe in this type of mentality... How could you justify what he is doing? Lebanese that agree with him do not care for Lebanon...
18 December 2014, 11:14
34
let the people decide make a preliminary elections in the Christian areas to see who gets the most Christian votes and this winning person wil be the candidate of the Christians and let the so called member of parliament dare not to apply the will of the people cause they know they will never be electaed again
god bless democracy
18 December 2014, 12:37
25
OTV: The international envoys to Lebanon were told that the final say in the issue of the presidency goes to Hizbullah.
in other words: Hassan nominated Aoun and it's up to Hassan to make the compromises. As Cardinal Ra3i once said Aoun is a Hezbollah tool.
18 December 2014, 14:55
10
sticking to aoun is a mystery. they are already isolated:russia is focused on ukrain and economical crisis now. and aoun president=isolated lebanon. even if they develop gas, it will take years to generate profits and lebanese economy is already collapsing.
18 December 2014, 15:00
72
Aoun us the only worthy candidate for the presidency. All others are nothing but pawns in the hands of foreign countries.
Aoun represents the Christians in lebanon and thus he should not give up on the presidency to safeguard the Christians power
18 December 2014, 15:34
24
He said, “I am a candidate and I will not vote for anyone or give up (my candidacy) to anyone.”
And proclaims to be for democracy and the constitution. But then his actions are that he will destroy the constitution and betray democracy if he is not declared president by acclamation, without the necessity of a vote or another candidate.
It is the essence of being a candidate that you subject yourself, as a candidate to the vote of the people, not that you demand and insist that you be imposed upon a country as an elected official. This guy believes in democracy for all, but himself, who he sees as a king, not to be defied.
Either that, or he is still suffering from mental disease and needs treatment badly.
18 December 2014, 16:44
25
“I don't want a Republic without a Constitution, laws and institutions,”
that is pure populism... if not , then he must ask his master militia to disarm! it would be respecting the republic by having ONLY ONE armed force!
he should ask hezbis wanted by the STL to abide to the law Lebanon has agreed on...
he should ask his allies to respect the Baabda declaration...
he has so many things to respect before daring say he wants a republic with laws....
18 December 2014, 21:23
14
the same way hezbis want a dialogue but based on their principles! hahahaha!
19 December 2014, 00:13
13
Phoenix,I remember you being much calmer and more neutral towards Aoun, but he's so demented he's even made you crazy. You're finally showing your Aounophobia mabrouk.
19 December 2014, 01:17
13
Wallahi 7ata sabarr 2ayyoub byitla3 min tyebou. This Aoun has spilled my last drop of of the glass.
19 December 2014, 00:23
14
Michel Aoun is a traitor. It's amazing how they complain that Ouwwet collaborated with Syria, when Aoun collaborated with Hobeiqa and Syria, sending LAF officers to Syrian-controlled areas like Dhour Chweir and Douar to take photographs of Ouwwet positions and smuggled in fuel and 130mm artillery shells during the Aoun-Geagea war. He claimed to fight Syria while he used them to gain an advantage on Geagea. Traitor...
