Report: Aoun Boycotts Bkirki over al-Rahi's Rhetoric
Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun was absent from the Easter mass that was led by Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Sunday amid reports on a rift between the two over the ongoing presidential vacuum.
The mass, which was held in Bkirki, was attended by former Presidents Michel Suleiman and Amin Gemayel, who is the head of the Kataeb party.
Aoun didn't also visit Bkirki to extend his greetings to al-Rahi like his old-time rival Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, who met with the Patriarch at the seat of the Maronite church on Holy Friday.
MP Hikmat Deeb, who is loyal to the Change and Reform bloc led by Aoun, denied in comments published in al-Liwaa newspaper on Tuesday that the FPM chief is reacting to al-Rahi's statements by boycotting Bkirki.
On Monday, al-Rahi expressed regret that the parliament is paralyzed due to the actions of a certain political team.
Al-Rahi also denounced in his Easter message on Friday the ongoing vacuum in the presidency, urging political powers to hold the polls and end their boycott of the electoral sessions.
“There are no constitutional justifications for the boycott of the elections,” he said, noting that the vacuum has created a “political death” in Lebanon and crippled the government and the parliament.
Suleiman's term ended in May without the election of a successor as the ongoing disputes between the rival March 8 and 14 camps have thwarted the polls.
Aoun's Change and Reform and Hizbullah's Loyalty to the Resistance blocs have been boycotting the elections, demanding that political powers agree on a compromise presidential candidate.
Only few MPs have been attending the sessions. The next electoral session is scheduled for April 22.
Meanwhile, Aoun contacted Geagea on Monday night to extend his greetings to him on the occasion of Easter after the LF leader sent the FPM chief a gift with his envoy Melhem Riachi for the same purpose.
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