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'Forces of Change' MPs meet to strategize ahead of presidential election

'Forces of Change' MPs meet to strategize ahead of presidential election

The 13 "Forces of Change" MPs in Baabda, on June 23 2022. (Credit: Dalati and Nohra)

BEIRUT — “Forces of Change” MPs said on Friday that they are preparing to launch a political initiative within the framework to define the profile of the future Lebanese president, who should be unifying and capable of putting the country on the road to recovery.

Here’s what we know:

    • After their meeting on Friday at the office of MP Paula Yacoubian in Beirut, the 13 MPs announced their initiative in a statement, which will focus on their political stance and “an approach centered on the constitutional principles and the values ​​which can create an environment conducive to the election of a president who will contribute to launching the process of rescuing the country.”

    • In their statement, Forces of Change MPs said they have tasked MPs Melhem Khalaf and Michel Douaihy with drafting the text of this project, the launch of which is scheduled for the first days of September, before President Michel Aoun’s term ends on October 31.

    • “Our initiative details a few points on which the future President should focus on. He should first have a clear position on the subject of sovereignty and the monopoly of the carrying of arms," Douaihy said after the meeting in a reference to Hezbollah, adding that on the economic level, the next president should undoubtedly acquire a clear vision capable of leading Lebanon out of the crisis.

    • For her part, Yacoubian said that “this initiative will therefore be announced at a press conference during which one or two names of presidential candidates that the bloc of 13 deputies would support will be disclosed.”

    • Earlier this week, members of the Forces of Change MPs met with other parliamentary blocs including Kataeb and Michel Mouawad to discuss legislative items. During these previous meetings, MPs Ibrahim Mneimneh, Yacoubian and Halimé El Kaakour boycotted the meetings. Mneimneh told L’Orient Today last week that he boycotted the meeting because of an absence of a clear agenda. 

BEIRUT — “Forces of Change” MPs said on Friday that they are preparing to launch a political initiative within the framework to define the profile of the future Lebanese president, who should be unifying and capable of putting the country on the road to recovery.Here’s what we know:    • After their meeting on Friday at the office of MP Paula Yacoubian in Beirut, the 13 MPs...