Aoun Slams Jumblat's Rejection of Orthodox Law: Does He Want to Usurp Christian Rights?
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun criticized on Saturday Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat's rejection of the Orthodox Gathering parliamentary electoral law, saying that he has “done nothing to eliminate sectarianism,” reported the daily An Nahar on Sunday.
He wondered: “Does Jumblat want to deny the rights of 110,000 Christians residing in Aley and the Chouf regions?”
The FPM leader made his remarks to al-Alam television on Saturday.
He continued: “Why is Jumblat fearful of granting each individual his rights?”
“Jumblat is the leader of isolationists in Lebanon,” declared Aoun.
“Does he want Christians in his region to be incorporated in a colony of his own?” he asked.
The Orthodox Gathering proposal, which calls for each sect to elect its own lawmakers, has created divisions among various political factions in Lebanon.
A Christian four-party committee, comprised of the Phalange Party, FPM, Lebanese Forces, and Marada Movement, has advocated the law.
President Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister Najib Miqati, Jumblat, the Mustaqbal Movement, and independent MPs of the March 14 camp all rejected the proposal.
Jumblat had said earlier in January that the proposal “would lead to extremism and the isolation of sects,” as well as jeopardize coexistence and the Taef accord.
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