Aoun: I Will Not Facilitate Presidential Elections
Lebanon”s MP General Michel Aoun appeared on LBC Kalam el Nas talk show with Marcel Ghanem and attacked the Lebanese government , the friendly Arab and western countries, the majority leaders , the army but defended Hezbollah and Syria.
The interview with the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) leader began at 9: 30 PM and lasted for 3 hours.
Aoun, a member of the Iranian and Syrian backed Hezbollah- backed opposition defended the presence of the Syrian intelligence in Lebanon:
“Syria and a lot of Arab and Foreign countries have intelligence systems in Lebanon”, Aoun said and added “besides Syria has nothing to do with the oppositions” demands”.
Aoun attacked the way the army handled the riots by the opposition that resulted in the killing of 7 Hezbollah and Amal members. “The Lebanese Army made a mistake when it confronted the rioters with rifles rather than hoses and other peaceful means of dispersing riots, Aoun said.
Aoun revealed that the opposition is not in a hurry to end the political crises when he predicted that the “Damascus summit will take place without a Lebanese president” and insisted that the opposition will press for their rights and said he will not facilitate the election of the president as long as he does not have a proportional share in the new government equal to his share in the parliament.
He revealed also that one of his demands is to have the interior, finance or the justice ministries, but the majority has refused.
“The opposition constitutes 45 percent of Lebanon”s Parliament. We want to have the same share in Cabinet. It is our right,” Aoun told Thursday”s Kalam el Nass talk show on LBCI.
“We asked for veto power … for the purpose of influencing and not blocking cabinet decisions,” he said.
Aoun said that when the majority March 14 coalition rejected veto power, “we proposed the three tens formula on condition that the elected president would play a conciliatory role in cabinet.”
Aoun accused Democratic Gathering leader MP Walid Jumblatt of communicating with Israel. Aoun did not elaborate what the communication was about.
Aoun defended Hezbollah arms claiming they are for self defense adding that the revenge of the killing of Mughniyeh and the declaration of an open war on Israel fall within the context of self defense.
Aoun used Hezbollah weapons to threaten the majority when he said : “Those who are capable of igniting a civil war and winning it don”t want to resort to that choice, Aoun added without giving any detailed explanations.
Aoun accused the Fouad Siniora government of being illegitimate , but did confess it is constitutionally legal
Aoun defended Syria”s praises of him claiming they are praising him because he is dealing with them on high moral basis.
Aoun defended the demands of the opposition and said the president has no authority anyway . Aoun added: Army Commander Gen. Michel Suleiman is the majority”s candidate not the opposition”s. The majority has accused the opposition of wanting a weak and handcuffed president at the Baabda palace , who will do what Syria says , just like Lahoud did.
On the other hand Aoun said had he been the presidential candidate he would not accept any preconditions set before his election because he enjoys popular support and a parliamentary block of 23 MPs.
Aoun blames the impasse on the world community that stands behind the government of Prime Minister Siniora.
“The excessive international support for Siniora “s government is blocking the democratic process in Lebanon” and added “the accumulation of American mistakes led us to where we stand now”.
The majority blames Syria for blocking the presidential vote . Saudi Arabian , Egyptian leaders and many others may miss the Damascus summit if Syria does not cooperate over the Lebanese elections.
Elias Hadad , an analyst commented on Aoun”s interview : “Now you know why former US ambassador Feltman said Aoun reminds him of Buthaina Shaaban in his interviews.”
Jeffrey Feltman said ” If you covered Aoun”s name , I would have thought it was an interview with Syria”s minister of immigration Buthaina Shaaban.