The Change and Reform parliamentary bloc led by MP Michel Aoun on Tuesday stressed that “national partnership” is the solution to Lebanon's compounded problems, urging a mass turnout at the Free Patriotic Movement's annual October 13 rally which has been pushed to October 16 this year.
“We will not back down from our rights, democratic Lebanon and national partnership,” bloc secretary MP Ibrahim Kanaan announced after the weekly meeting in Rabieh.
He urged “everyone, without exception, to take to the street on Sunday, October 16 to commemorate the anniversary of our martyrs.”
“On October 16 we will mark a national cause and we will tell everyone that this State must be built upon principles and rights,” Kanaan added.
“We will not back down from our endeavor to achieve change, reform, the rise of the State, and national partnership,” he said.
Citing the FPM's agreements with Hizbullah and the Lebanese Forces, Kanaan stressed that the movement has “a deep-rooted belief in national partnership.”
“The understandings that we have forged with Hizbullah and the LF are patriotic par excellence and this would be the case with any other political party,” the MP underlined.
He added: “Adherence to the National Pact and national partnership is the solution to Lebanon's crises today, which have to do with the political system, the presidency, and the work of the government and parliament.”
Aoun served as the head of one of two rival governments contending for power in Lebanon from 1988 to October 1990.
He declared a so-called “liberation war” against Syrian forces stationed in Lebanon on March 14, 1989. On October 13, 1990, he was ousted from the presidential palace after the Syrian forces invaded the areas that were under his control.
FPM chief Jebran Bassil had recently threatened that the FPM would “topple the government” through street protests if the other parties do not heed the movement's demand regarding “partnership” and the National Pact.
The FPM, which has the biggest Christian bloc in parliament, has suspended its participation in cabinet sessions and national dialogue meetings over accusations that other parties in the country are not respecting the National Pact.
The supporters of Aoun's presidential bid have also argued that he is more eligible than Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh to become president due to the size of his parliamentary bloc and his bigger influence in the Christian community.
Source: http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/218274-change-and-reform-national-par...
