Search
Search

PRESIDENTIAL VACANCY

The Free Patriotic Movement warned of 'state collapse' if vacancy persists

The Free Patriotic Movement warned of 'state collapse' if vacancy persists

The leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, Gebran Bassil, during a press conference on June 13, 2024. (Credit: DR)

The Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) has warned of "state collapse if the vacancy in the presidency of the Republic persists," as the Lebanese Parliament has failed to elect a successor to Michel Aoun, the founder of the FPM, since the end of his term in October 2022.

In a statement issued after a weekly meeting on Tuesday, chaired by party leader Gebran Bassil, the FPM blamed "the positions of certain parliamentary blocs that refuse to agree on a name or commit to ensuring quorum [in Parliament]," while calling to contribute to solutions that lead to "the election of a president in the spirit of agreement and democratic competition."

The FPM regularly accuses the Lebanese Forces (LF), led by Samir Geagea, of rejecting the principle of dialogue. Conversely, the LF claims to adhere to the Constitution and voting, while accusing the FPM of sabotaging the presidential elections.

"Protecting Lebanon from War"

The FPM also addressed the issue of the war in South Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israel, emphasizing "the danger of an expansion of Israeli aggression on Lebanon, which requires solidarity among Lebanese to confront the enemy." However, the statement adds that "it is important to reaffirm the need to protect Lebanon from the war that stems from military support to Palestinians in the Gaza conflict, even if such action has moral and humanitarian justifications."

The conflict in South Lebanon began on Oct. 8, 2023, one day after the Gaza War broke out, with Hezbollah stating that clashes on the Israeli-Lebanese border will continue as long as the war in Gaza persists. Despite being allied with Hezbollah, the FPM criticizes Lebanon's involvement in this war.

The Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) has warned of "state collapse if the vacancy in the presidency of the Republic persists," as the Lebanese Parliament has failed to elect a successor to Michel Aoun, the founder of the FPM, since the end of his term in October 2022.In a statement issued after a weekly meeting on Tuesday, chaired by party leader Gebran Bassil, the FPM blamed "the positions of...