Geagea Nominates Aoun as President, Urges March 14 Alliance to Back him
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea announced on Monday his support for his rival Change and Reform bloc chief MP Michel Aoun as president after weeks of speculation.
He declared during a joint press conference with the MP at Maarab: “I declare, after thorough assessment among the LF, the nomination of MP Michel Aoun as president.”
“The LF does not take impulsive or spontaneous decisions, but takes them after deep reflection,” he noted in an indirect reference to Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc chief MP Fouad Saniora.
The MP had earlier on Monday urged officials against taking “rushed stances” on local affairs.
“The state was on the verge of collapse so we sought an extraordinary solution, one which was not entertained by others,” Geagea added to applause among the audience.
“The vacuum in the presidency has crippled state institutions and almost led to the country's collapse,” he noted.
“From the start, we have long supported holding the presidential elections on time and in accordance with the constitution,” said Geagea.
He hoped that Aoun's nomination would lead to normalcy being restored in Lebanon, remarking that the “positive progression” of ties between the LF and Change and Reform bloc led to the adoption of the MP's nomination.
“We look forward to political cooperation and honorable competition with the Free Patriotic Movement,” he stated.
Geagea reiterated the articles of the declaration of intent that was signed between the LF and FPM in 2015.
He stressed the commitment to the National Pact, empowering the Lebanese army, and respecting international resolutions.
“I call on my allies in the March 14 coalition to adopt Aoun's nomination, especially since the aforementioned points coincide with the camp's principles,” said Geagea.
For his part, Aoun voiced his support for the principles that were listed by Geagea.
“We will not forget what Geagea has presented for Lebanon,” he continued.
“We should no longer remain attached to the past and we should look forward to building a future together,” he stressed.
“The past should not be forgotten however,” said lawmaker.
“We do not act out of spite with anyone and we have never acted out of spite,” he emphasized.
“We back coexistence between Muslims and Christians and we have never discriminated against anyone. Everyone has his place in Lebanon,” Aoun remarked.
“On this historic day, I believe we will be able to achieve what we have pledged,” he added.
Prior to the conference, Geagea had held talks with Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil and MP Ibrahim Kanaan, both of the Change and Reform bloc.
The two officials and Aoun had held talks earlier on Monday with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi.
The patriarch had also held a separate meeting with Saniora.
Lebanon has been without a president since May 2014 when the term of Michel Suleiman ended without the election of successor.
Ongoing disputes between the rival March 8 and 14 camps have thwarted the polls.
Mustaqbal Movement leader MP Saad Hariri launched late in 2015 a proposal to nominate Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh as president.
Geagea, Hariri's ally in the March 14 camp, was a presidential nominee at the time and observers have said that the LF leader's nomination of Aoun is a response to Mustaqbal Movement leader's proposal.
M.T.
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18 January 2016, 19:13
Aoun: On this historic day, I believe we will be able to achieve what we have pledged.
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18 January 2016, 19:11
Aoun: I wish well to all the Lebanese.
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18 January 2016, 19:11
Aoun: Everyone has his place in this nation.
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18 January 2016, 19:11
Aoun: The past should not be forgotten.
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18 January 2016, 19:11
Aoun: We back coexistence between Muslims and Christians and we have never discriminated against anyone.
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18 January 2016, 19:10
Aoun: We should no longer remain attached to the past should we seek to build a future together.
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18 January 2016, 19:10
Aoun: We do not act out of spite with anyone and we have never acted out of spite.
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18 January 2016, 19:10
Aoun: We support all the principles that Geagea had stipulated.
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18 January 2016, 19:08
Aoun: We will not forget what Geagea has presented for Lebanon.
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18 January 2016, 19:08
Geagea: The LF is not acting out of a reflex, but it acts according to its principles.
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18 January 2016, 19:06
Geagea: We demand the adoption of a fair parliamentary electoral law.
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18 January 2016, 19:06
Geagea: I call on independent figures to back Aoun's nomination for president.
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18 January 2016, 19:05
Geagea: All international resolutions should be respected and implemented.
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18 January 2016, 19:05
Geagea: I call on my allies in the March 14 coalition to adopt Aoun's nomination, especially since the aforementioned points coincide with the camp's principles.
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18 January 2016, 19:04
Geagea: We support bolstering state institutions and urge against the use of arms no matter what the insecurities are.
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18 January 2016, 19:04
Geagea: All agreements of the national dialogue should be adopted.
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18 January 2016, 19:03
Geagea: We are committed to the National Pact, as stipulated by the Taif Accord, and empowering the army.
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18 January 2016, 19:01
Geagea: We look forward to political cooperation and honorable competition with the FPM.
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18 January 2016, 19:00
Geagea: The positive progression of ties between the LF and FPM led to this moment.
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18 January 2016, 19:00
Geagea: Aoun's nomination will hopefully lead us to a normal life in Lebanon.
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18 January 2016, 18:58
Geagea: Based on this, I declare, after thorough assessment among the LF, the nomination of MP Michel Aoun as president.
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18 January 2016, 18:58
Geagea: From the start, we have long supported holding the presidential elections on time and in accordance with the constitution.
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18 January 2016, 18:57
Geagea: We were on the verge of collapse so we sought an extraordinary solution, one which was not entertained by others.
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18 January 2016, 18:56
Geagea after talks with Aoun: The vacuum in the presidency has crippled state institutions and almost led to the country's collapse.
18 January 2016, 18:59
1213
At least Geagea will have done one thing right, we can give him that.
18 January 2016, 19:29
914
Naharnet seems to be ashamed of this photo, since they didn't post it here.
https://www.dailystar.com.lb/dailystar/Pictures/2016/01/18/422503_img650x420_img650x420_crop.jpg
18 January 2016, 20:08
813
Stop your whining and be happy for once, this is good for Lebanon.
19 January 2016, 01:06
95
let us remind one another if Aoun was elected and your weapons are exposed again as sulieman showed as illegal then you will drop Aoun as traitor..bottom line you want a president to follow Iran and Assad otherwise they are Israeli or,Saudi.
18 January 2016, 19:10
27
Congratulations to General Aoun. Now, Christians have a real leader. Thank you to Geagea too !!!
18 January 2016, 19:21
139
Geagea: We (...) urge against the use of arms no matter what the insecurities are.
Aoun: We support all the principles that Geagea had stipulated.
Let's wait and see what happens next...
18 January 2016, 19:25
1412
It's not just a quote, it's followed by a comment full of negativity.
18 January 2016, 19:32
813
thepatriot, it's not a big mystery. Do you really believe Geagea would ever bow down to Franjieh? Geagea killed Franjiehs whole family back in the day.
No he bow to Aoun instead, and this is the best. Maybe this will make the Christians come together finally now.
18 January 2016, 19:45
127
he's not the kind of man to bow... wait & see mystic... wait & see...
18 January 2016, 19:49
1112
Read my comment again pat, why shouldn't Geagea do it? Hariri gave up on him, and he went to the most influential Christian Leader in Lebanon, which is General Aoun.
18 January 2016, 19:26
1314
The iranian thugs keep saying Dr. Geagea is a Saudi agent and on their payroll. It seems KSA is now nominating michel aoun for president. strange..
18 January 2016, 19:52
137
Notice how they magically change their tone? I think they really need to get rid of their "if you're not with us, you're a zionist salafi" approach.
19 January 2016, 03:30
79
So according to flamethrower (the_roar) Geagea is no longer paid by Saudi Arabia.
18 January 2016, 19:27
138
let's wait and see what happens next is "full of negativity"!? em... ok...whatever...
18 January 2016, 19:34
1310
ooooh shut up already! I'm not insinuating anything! I am curious to see what happens next! Now give me a break and go honk in the next tunnel you find momo!
19 January 2016, 10:46
74
momo... you're a useless spammer. You have your own 2 cents logic.You are intellectually limited, and almost never understand what people express here. You're not very interesting. Your only interest on this forum is to troll...tsk tsk tsk... poor soul...
19 January 2016, 02:57
107
you're the one who should shut-up, if you can't take responsibility for what you're saying.
18 January 2016, 19:33
1312
جعجع: ما عزز اقتناعنا بهذه الخطوة، هو التطور الإيجابي في العلاقة بين التيار الوطني الحر والقوات اللبنانية، لا سيما من خلال ورقة إعلان النوايا التي وقعت في حزيران من العام 2015 وما تضمنته مقدمة الورقة من حرص على تنقية الذاكرة والتطلع نحو مستقبل يسوده التعاون السياسي أو التنافس الشريف.
I disagree here with Geagea here. Just because the relationship between the LF and the fpm has improved you do not nominate someone who is allied with a terrorist militia and whose objective is to establish an islamic shia state in Lebanon mirroring wilayat al faqih.
It would have been more honorable to announce his withdrawal from M14 ( or what's left of it ) instead of nominating someone diametrically opposed to his beliefs. There is no M14 or M8 anymore. There is hezbollah and its state.
Fine, will Aoun and Hezbollah now head to parliament and elect Aoun along with the LF?
18 January 2016, 19:41
129
There are many questions to be raised indeed...
1- Will Ebola go to parliament to vote?
2- Will Frangieh still present his candidacy? Probably not...how will he react then? Naaah... who cares really!
3- For whom will Future vote? How will Jumby react?
4- What is the deal between Aoun & Geagea?
...
19 January 2016, 02:57
127
start calling him "President" ya humble, the sooner you get used to it the better it'll be for you hahaha
19 January 2016, 03:26
99
there is no time limit for the troll. It's 3 in the morning Beirut time and he is still spamming the forum with idiotic comments.
19 January 2016, 11:53
55
mowaten, you posted your comment 9 hours ago (it is almost 12 p.m at the time of my writing this comment ) which makes it you posted your comment (12-9) 3 in the morning. Must be something really worrying you that you don't sleep. SO Liberty is correct.
18 January 2016, 19:47
812
Ex, this will strengthen the Christians in Lebanon. This will merge them together and bring more unity.
18 January 2016, 19:51
125
You used Christians from the beginning, and hopefully this move doesn't involve your revolutionary guards either.
18 January 2016, 19:57
813
This is a Christian matter between their leaders, do you think I love Geagea? I hated him since I was a kid and he hates the Resistance just the same.
But this will bring more stability to Lebanon, that is what I applaud.
18 January 2016, 20:00
136
As long as your Revolutionary Guard and any other influences are involved I hope this will bring stability. If it involves ANY outside force, there's no real stability. Christians in Lebanon need to stand together and not be bought by Iran or KSA, fair enough?
18 January 2016, 19:53
123
So you're implying Christians are basically either the puppets of KSA or Iran, and nothing more?
18 January 2016, 20:05
101
Expect Saudi payments to dwindle substantially in 2016. Iranian payments too. Everyone in the region has an interest in stop bleeding money on spilling blood!
18 January 2016, 20:10
113
Long as neither Iran or KSA are involved that's the important thing. Christians need to unite absolutely, buy not at the influence of others.
18 January 2016, 20:01
48
This is a lesson for all those followers who kill and die, who destroy their life and future in order to support their leaders.
I am glad that these two parties are reconciling and uniting together, I regret all the death and destruction, the years that it took for this to happen.
18 January 2016, 20:06
911
That's the thing, politicians send the sons and fathers of others to fight and die, only to kiss and make up later, as if nothing happened.
19 January 2016, 05:19
88
Nasrallah's own son fought and died for the Resistance, so no, Helium, it is not comparable to the common Lebanese politician.
18 January 2016, 20:23
116
And you are special kind of Iranian traitor and Sectarian to the bone.
18 January 2016, 20:29
611
What are Aoun's chances of becoming a president now that he has Geagea's and Hizbullah's support?
18 January 2016, 20:31
123
I believe Aoun reached some political agreement with Geagea that would benefit the LF in the next cabinet (no. of ministers). And within Geagea's plan, would be to have actual productive ministers that caters to the publics interest (not like all the current ministers) which would win over future potential voters for the LF.
Short term: Aoun gets the seat.
Long Term: LF gain followers.
Now if Aoun becomes is President, we will have to wait and see if he will backstab the Lebanese Christians in some way or another to please Iran(he has to thank Hizballah's weapons and stubbornness someway).
At least Aoun isnt as extreme as Franjieh when it comes to the Assad Iranian proxy.
My last hope at this stage is for the independents to nominate Ziad Baroud (a true statesman)
18 January 2016, 20:49
142
very smart strategic move by geagea.
he makes a deal with a man who has one foot in the grave, and he gets to inherit some of his supporters when he dies.
smaaaart ....
18 January 2016, 21:50
16
Mr Berrie can call the Parliament and have the vote for President once and for all and let's move forward with rectifying the issues for the people of Lebanon . . . Hope all solutions are purely Lebanese
18 January 2016, 22:06
04
The heat is really on Berri at the moment. He is a part of March 8 coalition and should act accordingly instaed of giving his MPs "freedom to choose". Jumblatt, Gemayels will also feel the pressure.
18 January 2016, 22:32
154
In my opinion neither of them is presidential material. But considering the situation in the country, this is better than nothing. Let's see how the rest of m14 reacts to this. This is not a done deal just yet.
18 January 2016, 23:37
105
I never tried to hide the fact that I am LF. Despite this, I don't think that Geagea is good presidential material. And contrary to what you might believe, people in the LF have to right to express their own opinion. It is called democracy.
18 January 2016, 22:40
119
Good move for Geagea. Supporting the stronger side, especially after Hariri abandoned him in favor of Franjieh.
18 January 2016, 22:42
52
I don't like Jumbo, but I agree with only one statement he said in the past, who guesses what was it will win a $5 gift card :)
18 January 2016, 23:15
105
Mystic, most Christians are LF, not doubt by far. This is a good thing. However, I laugh that Geagea is talking about implementing the Taif. There is no hope of ever disarming HA IMHO. It will be even tougher now. I think the smarter move, is to arm ourselves, and coordinate with HA the eradication of armed militias in Palestinian camps. Implement our own security within those camps. And cleanse our land from takfiri/ISIS and Nusra. HA just needs to leave our liquor stores alone, and let us drink arak, and let the women wear bikinis at the beach if they like, and we can all live together. Mystic, just take care of that for me, and maybe we can be happy. Kaysuk!
19 January 2016, 04:01
82
This doesn't mean much. Do you believe that between Aoun and Geagea the issue of. The Lebonese Presidency hangs? It is a regional, if not an international issue. The decision regionally is with KSA and Iran. GEagea cannot give Aoun the Presidency over a regional veto. It is not KSA with the. Eto, but Iran. iRan does not want the Lebanese State to rise back. Any President, even Aoun is a step in that direction.
19 January 2016, 04:43
22
Can't wait to hear what Jumbalat have to say. after all it is his idea to nominate frangiyeh
19 January 2016, 05:37
55
@ Hashtag_brsoumian.you got it, and I believe you are the only one who has brain and uses it I do respect you and I donated $$$ to a poor lebanese family that I am sure they will benefit from it. every body else on naharnet is full of stupidity and hateress. let's see how many thumb down I will receive now.
19 January 2016, 07:30
50
. Guess, and Win a $5 gift card What is the common thing between 3oun, ge3ge3 and franjaye
19 January 2016, 08:02
60
All 3 of them are criminals and killed thousands of Lebanese people. Vote No for all of them them. I hope Lebanese people will wake up one day and and all the garbage that we have is gone.......Nah that won't happen
19 January 2016, 09:06
87
and still Hezbollah will not go to parliament and vote its favorite pet.
19 January 2016, 10:59
65
I think that Ebola is kind of cornered. What pathetic excuse can they come up with now?
If they do not show up in parliament, their alliance with Aoun becomes obsolete. Is it the case?
If only Ebola fails to show up at parliament to vote, there will still be a quorum. So their failure to show up is unnecessary. They cannot block the elections alone...
