Education, Fighting Corruption Should Come Before Abolishment of Confessionalism
Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun said Tuesday that abolishment of confessionalism in politics could be reached through an educational program for youth and fighting corruption.
Giving the example of Turkey, Aoun said in his statement during a vote of confidence debate in parliament that a lot of steps should be taken before abolishing confessionalism.
"Sectarianism doesn”t produce corruption. But corruption encourages sectarianism," he told MPs and members of cabinet.
Aoun, who was the first to speak in parliament after PM Saad Hariri, also said Lebanon will not be shaken on the security level because it has immunity.
Following his statement, Speaker Nabih Berri snapped back at Aoun saying he hasn”t called for abolishment of sectarianism. "I called for the formation of the national committee tasked with studying abolishment of confessionalism," Berri said.
Berri”s latest proposal has stirred debate in the country with Christian parties the most critical of abolishment of sectarianism.