Aoun Criticizes Electoral Process, Praises Army and Interior Ministry
MP Michel Aoun criticized the electoral process only minutes after polling stations closed on Sunday but applauded the army and interior ministry for their performances.
At a press conference, Aoun also had harsh words for Syriac Orthodox Bishop George Saliba accusing him of turning the Church into a "political party."
On the elections, Aoun pointed to "several violations" saying the most "catastrophic was ongoing bribery at the heart of the Lebanese administration."
"There were acts of bribery but those who knew about them had no jurisdiction to stop them," he said.
He said the performance of public institutions was "weak" while vote-counting committees "neglected" their duties.
"Judges were absent and did not abide by the time schedule," Aoun said, adding that "no measures were taken to address the violations."
Among other recorded violations, he said, was "a policy of selectivity in some polling stations especially in Kesrouan. In other districts, some voters were prohibited from entering the centers especially in Sin el-Fil."
The head of the Free Patriotic Movement had words of praise for the army and the interior ministry.
"We salute the army command which we felt was the only establishment that carried out its duties. We also praise the efforts of the interior minister, despite our reservations over some security measures," he said.
On Saliba, Aoun accused the bishop of "failing in his mission to represent the Syriac Orthodox community in Lebanon."
Saliba "committed two grave mistakes: first when he turned his church into a political party, and second when he accused Syriac Orthodox priest Elias al-Akari of treason for abiding by his principles."
Aoun voiced regret the polls were not held over more than one day.