Change and Reform Delegation Kickstarts Tour on Rivals as Aoun Seeks Consensus
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
A delegation from the Change and Reform bloc began on Monday touring rival political parties to discuss party chief MP Michel Aoun's recent initiative, which highlights the presidential vacuum and the appointment of high-ranking security officers in state posts.
The delegation's first stop was Bkirki where it met with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi.
“We agreed with the patriarch to consider Aoun's initiative serious and worthy of discussion,” said Change and Reform MP after the talks.
“The exceptional situation requires exceptional solutions,” he told reporters.
“We have a common concern to achieve national partnership,” said Kanaan.
He later pointed out from Maarab that the delegation tackled solutions for the presidential stalemate with Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea.
“We thoroughly discussed Aoun's initiative,” Kanaan told reporters, stressing that the LF is open to all solutions.
“Aoun is serious... he gave solutions and a chance to resolve the (crises)... he didn't obstruct the cabinet,” Education Minister Elias Bou Saab, who is loyal to Aoun, said in comments published in al-Joumhouria newspaper.
The minister stressed that the FPM will not “allow the government to continue its work... by breaking the laws and constitution and illogically extending the terms.”
Bou Saab expressed belief that there is no reason for extending the tenure of military and security officials if the rivals agree that the matter is uncontroversial, wondering if a certain side “is seeking to link all the crises together to carry out a settlement... which will never happen.”
The delegation is expected to hold talks on Wednesday with al-Mustaqbal Movement and later on with Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat.
Ministerial sources told An Nahar newspaper that Aoun's endeavors will hit a brick wall as there are several obstacles.
The sources lamented the FPM chief is seeking to stage the presidential elections according to his terms “and it's impossible to amend the Constitution at this stage,” revealing that Aoun's allies convinced him of dispatching envoys to discuss his initiative and defuse tension.
March 14 parliamentary sources told the newspaper that the coalition will inform Aoun's delegation “the difficulty of amending the Constitution amid the presidential vacuum.”
Aoun reiterated at a press conference on Friday his ultimate rejection on the extension of the mandates of the army and police chiefs, calling instead for the appointment of new high-ranking officials.
The military posts in Lebanon are suffering as the result of the presidential vacuum in light of the parliament's failure to elect a successor for Michel Suleiman whose tenure ended in May last year.
Media reports had said that Aoun's main objective is to receive political consensus on the appointment of Commando Regiment chief Brig. Gen. Chamel Roukoz, who is Aoun's son-in-law, as army chief as part of a package for the appointment of other top security officers.
Roukoz's tenure ends in October while the term of Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji expires at the end of September. Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Basbous is set to retire in June.
Aoun also told reporters that solutions to the current problems come through the election of the president by the people, a presidential referendum and holding parliamentary elections based on a new and balanced electoral law before organizing the presidential polls.
18 May 2015, 08:43
1210
whatever m8 tries, they will not succeed in placing aoun as president :)
18 May 2015, 11:31
118
..flamethrower-Don't you think Aoun should step aside and find another candidate for president as it is obvious that he will not get elected as president
18 May 2015, 11:53
95
..flamethrower-Aoun should meet with the other Christian leaders and agree on another candidate,,it can be achieved.
18 May 2015, 12:04
88
Gen. Aoun is the only hope for a President in Lebanon. If you guys can't accept it, then we will not have President for a long time.
18 May 2015, 12:08
86
Mystic Aoun will never be president..thats something you need to get through your thick head..we will never accept a traitor for president ..we will have have a president for as long as we want one ..and nothing you and your hizb can do anything about it..
18 May 2015, 12:21
78
We will never accept a mass killer and Israeli collaborator Geagea. It goes both ways my friend.
You want to wait forever fine.
18 May 2015, 14:32
74
FT, may I register my stolid disagreement with you on this statement of yours. Mbala, akid wou tab3an there are countless other viable candidates other than Aoun and by default also of Geagea. By simple definition of their pasts both of them respectively, neither will ever make a good president because of their chequered pasts. We Lebanese have many excellent candidates who are a lot younger, are patriotic, a lot more professionally qualified, and are a lot more connected with our contemporary realities. We need a president that is able and capable to talk with all the Lebanese and not just the half respectively. Unfortunately such people have neither armed militias around them like do Aoun and Geagea and the only reason why they do not come forward is because they have been asphyxiated and stifled by the long shadows of both men. Time for them both to quit and give us Lebanese the space to breathe again. The time is yesterday before today.
18 May 2015, 16:33
51
FT, I still find reasonable grounds to disagree with you. Masalan, not long ago, Geagea asked Aoun to come over and contest the elections, did Aoun agree? Then Geagea did not try his luck as you asserted and lost, there have been no elections as yet, so we turn back to Geagea's invitation to Aoun for the voting, and yes, why not, let's vote as per the constitution. Then whereas it regards the other excellent candidates, they are none of those you mentioned, and we all know the thick air that surrounds the matter. Aoun wanted it by all means and Geagea is here to make it impossible, till they both agree to move away, and away both should move, as I said, we the people need room to breathe, the air with both Aoun and Geagea is now way too stale.
18 May 2015, 17:11
33
FT, you said and I quote, "phoenix, there is no need to contest the vote. geagea's 'invite' was a trap. only a mongolian would fall for it. he got 48 votes. why contest a legal voting?", end of quote. Now if this was a trap and why contest a legal voting, then what about Aoun's call for the vote to be made by the people, is that legal?
18 May 2015, 17:13
33
Mystic, ya habibi, ya khayi, you wrote and I quote, "Gen. Aoun is the only hope for a President in Lebanon. If you guys can't accept it, then we will not have President for a long time.", end of quote. This alone is concrete testimony as to the will imposed on the people by Hezbollah, you couldn't have put it any better for everyone. Sad to say, Aoun will never be president either, not now, not ever, sorry.
18 May 2015, 17:40
52
Not just Hezbollah phoenix, but all March 8 parties agrees on this, like it or not, they are the majority in the parliament.
Also the majority of popular support inside Lebanon.
18 May 2015, 08:57
135
Majnun. Mareed. He will destroy the country to be president. He said it.
18 May 2015, 09:02
117
Caporal believes he is the genius, the extraordinary, above De Gaulle, Eisenhower, and Churchill. Better than Napoleon (he loves when people call him NapoleAoun), the new St Paul (on the road to Damascus), he just cannot understand why people are not begging him to be the president and the savior (some people who visit him kneel in front of him and touch his pants asking for a benediction! Or kiss his hand.... ).
Who wants a mareedman for president????
18 May 2015, 09:08
115
the claoun is too stupid to realise that he will never become president
18 May 2015, 10:44
152
Sleiman Frangieh is much better for the Christians than this madman.
18 May 2015, 16:37
32
Humble, Sleiman Frangieh is another Syrian tool, a lackey and a stooge, so don't expect him to be any better than the rest, they're all the same and one stock, expired shelf life.
18 May 2015, 23:21
01
I know the tight link between the Assad and the Frangieh. You are right to say that he is half-brother with the Butcher. But one thing better than the Caporal (according to my knowledge) is that Sleimane will never accept the Mutelateh.
For all other things you are absolutely right.
18 May 2015, 11:59
00
the christians are partners in this country not employees
god bless democracy
18 May 2015, 14:05
53
As is said, a little late is better than never. But one must also be honest to tell Aoun that the delays were caused by his intransigence where it comes to the presidency. Now that this vacuum is beginning to cause other problems, he must not assume any accusations on anyone other than his Hezbollah led M8 side. Then electing the president by the people is a toy not to be played with, because this would be a precedent that would open a can of worms, imagine what would also happen to the other 2 presidencies then? But all in good time, Mr. Geagea has realized that he doesn't have the prerequisites of a Lebanese president and Aoun hopefully by now must have realized it too. There's absolutely no doubt that we Lebanese have ample decent, youthful and patriotic people who can handle this sensitive job, so by order of priority, let the president be elected, the rest of our growing problems will be solved one by one, but first things first.
18 May 2015, 14:07
52
**Mr. Geagea has realized that he doesn't have the prerequisites of a Lebanese president and Aoun hopefully by now must have realized it where it concerns his candidacy too...***
18 May 2015, 16:41
33
FT, you want the prerequisite even though I made clear mention of it priorly? OK, to repeat it again, one who is a lot younger, a lot more patriotic, has a lot more professional qualifications, is a lot more connected with our contemporary issues, thus with a lot more vision than both Aoun and Geagea. If Geagea in your case is a war criminal, what would that make of Aoun? Or Berri, or Jumblatt, or Sayed Hassan and the rest of the pack? Was it Geagea alone who was doing the killing? Then talking of which, the KSA, if you want us to believe that the KSA is bribing its way around, then how about Iran? Or Syria which uses both currency and arm wrenching? If you want people to consider your views, then you must accept that a coin is made up of two sides, I mean real coins with mercantible value too.
18 May 2015, 16:47
33
FT my dear FT, did you say Aoun is a big fish? Sure thing he was some time ago, no wonder Hezbollah caught him in its nets, and to be honest, he did not make any significant struggle to free himself of it either. Now Aoun looks more like a washed out sardine, you should have seen that so called Mahrajen of last week, wallah it hurt my heart bad to see Aoun unable to command even a percent of his crowd as before. What's the wisdom behind it all if I should ask? The public is tired of him, having promised so very much and not only breaking his word but also making excuses over them. It all boils down to an unenviable end, this is why I said last week, let Aoun make that joint declaration with the LF, to save face before that wall crumbles altogether.
18 May 2015, 17:46
32
Phoenix all stats currently gives FPM (alone without counting the allies) more than 40% of the christian voters, and 55% if you include the direct allies (tachnag, Marada...) why do you think 14 MArch is rejecting the direct popular elections?
18 May 2015, 17:24
30
"Aoun also told reporters that solutions to the current problems come through the election of the president by the people, a presidential referendum and holding parliamentary elections based on a new and balanced electoral law before organizing the presidential polls."
Is he threatening to free the slaves? To let Article 24 go into the dustgin of history?
18 May 2015, 17:27
51
The day come, in April 1945, when the last two German Nazis were sitting in a bunker in Berlin waiting for the Russians to blow them up, and they were involved in a great debate about which of them was head of the party now.
18 May 2015, 17:41
22
PAtriot, 3ammo, GMA already proposed a mano a mano election between him and Dr.GEagea bu the Geagea allies refused so yes I totally agree with you if you can convince kataed, harriri and co
18 May 2015, 17:49
23
jiddo how old are you ? really now? Sorry but I have read ur comments and they are nothing but cheap talk, man walaw this is Naharnet not WWF
18 May 2015, 19:54
23
Poor the Lebanese who have to continually explain and re-explain reality to Aoun and his toadies and hangers on. "Aoun is serious". . . "Aoun is considering" . . . etc., etc. etc.
Aoun is like Nora Desmond in Sunset Strip except that in order to become a "has been", like the movie star Ms. Desmond, you first have to be a "was" and Aoun was only great in his own imagination, never in real life, so that he is not even a has been. But he is a black hole that is sucking Lebanon into oblivion. This you must give the guy.
18 May 2015, 20:02
22
sure aoun goes with the wind... only seeking for power even if it means constantly condradictory... once hezbollah was a terrorist group now they are patriots, once the assad family had to be ousted now he is defending it once syria was a terrorist country now he sides with it.... the list is long...
only brainwashed fools will not see it and still defend a liar.
19 May 2015, 11:53
01
kesrweneh, jiddoh cannot decide a mano a mano! He cannot stop other candidates to present their candidacies. He cannot re-write the constitution every time as it suits him!! What is this lunatic??
