Jumblat Mistakenly Addresses Suleiman as 'President Aoun' during Speech
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat made a slip of the tongue during a speech on Saturday when he mistakenly addressed President Michel Suleiman as MP Michel Aoun, the head of the Free Patriotic Movement.
His mistake drew raucous laughter among the crowd that included Suleiman, Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, and a number of officials.
The MP quickly corrected and excused himself before the audience, quipping: “This is because we have been dreaming of him (Aoun) so often.”
He made his remark in reference to the prominent role Aoun is playing regarding the presidential elections, amid media reports that he may be elected president.
“Don't worry, we didn't make the error because he is going to be elected,” he added jokingly.
Jumblat made the gaffe during a celebration of a Christian-Druze reconciliation in the Shouf village of Brih.
Kataeb Party chief Amin Gemayel made a similar slip during a speech in 2008, marking the third anniversary of the assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri.
Gemayel was calling for the election of a consensual president, suggesting the election of “General Michel Aoun,” drawing boos and whistles from the crowd.
He apologized and made the correct reference to then Army Commander General Michel Suleiman.
M.T.
D.A.
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