“Change and Reform” Begin by “Changing” Those Refusing to Comply Inside FPM
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun said that "Change and Reform" begin through "changing" those who are "refusing to comply inside the Free Patriotic Movement", Aoun was answering a question about the latest wave of objections, led by Maj. Gen. Issam Abu Jamra, inside FPM.
After the weekly meeting of Change and Reform bloc, Aoun said that "posts in parties are rare and their claimers are numerous", he added that FPM does not only allocate its sworn members to certain posts and that the allocating compass includes supporters.
"FPM reckons on the freedom of submission and respects the choices of its members regarding parliamentary elections," said Aoun, adding that "there is a workshop of Change and Reform inside the (Free Patriotic) Movement that will finish before the end of the year."
On the other hand, Aoun said that agreeing on the clauses of the ministerial Policy Statement is not suffering from any basic dispute and that everything is going positively.
"I can go to Damascus whenever I want and I”m not racing with Hariri over this," said Aoun answering a question about a possible visit to Syria.
Aoun said he is living in peace with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir "but each according to his political line."
"The gathering of Christians is possible through the restoring of Bkirki”s constants and the other side signing on the pact that FPM had signed on before," answered Aoun to a question.
Aoun hailed the reconciliation meeting held in Baabda between MPs Walid Jumblat and Suleiman Franjieh, adding that he does not personally oppose to meet with Jumblat but according to an agenda that gives the meeting a national meaning.
"Transgressions inside the Internal Security Forces institution have reached an unacceptable level and I demand for an investigation in all transgressions," said Aoun expressing dismay at how things are going inside the ISF.
"The leader of police was threatened and he is not an ordinary government employee. Things have reached an unacceptable level of transgressions and intimidation," added Aoun.
Earlier, Abu Jamra strongly objected Cabinet appointments by Aoun and threatened that "all options are open" if there was no respond to his objection.
In an interview published Wednesday by the daily Al-Mustaqbal, Abu Jamra described as a "mistake" Aoun”s ministerial appointments.
He said the FPM is one of the biggest movements in Lebanon "and we have potentials and skills enough to form a government, and not just one government."
"Consequently, we cannot understand why people were selected for ministerial posts from outside the FPM," Abu Jamra asked.
He said this issue "affects the morale of the FPM."
"You cannot have someone in the government who is outside your movement," he complained.
"What if the only FPM (Cabinet) minister was absent from a meeting? Do we guarantee others acts? Abu Jamra wondered.