Gemayel: We Did Not Agree with March 14 on Civil Disobedience

Local Editor

Head of the Lebanese Phalange party Amin Gemayel refused "to impose any terms on the [Lebanese] President regarding national dialogue," adding that, "If Hizbullah's weapon was the major topic of the dialogue body, this doesn't prevent us from deliberating other recent affairs in every session."
In an interview with "as-Saffir" Newspaper, Gemayel considered the dialogue table to be the appropriate framework to discuss Lebanese files, already ratified by the historic and significant "Baabda Declaration".
Moreover, Gemayel indicated that the deal with the March 14 was strictly "boycotting the government," and not constitutional disobedience. "We commit to our deal, and the Phalange party encouraged reactivating the parliamentary subcommittee in charge of a new electoral law," he added.
Gemayel further mentioned that boycotting the parliamentary legislation meant obstructing democracy in Lebanon, stressing the necessity of holding the parliamentary elections as scheduled, guaranteeing by that a valid representation for Christians in particular.
Furthermore, he saw that "all options should be deliberated in the parliamentary subcommittee," underscoring, "we are open to any option that reinforces democratic life and achieves partnership and fair representation, and so we proposed the project of 50 constituencies."

In this context, Gemayel indicated, "The conclusive decision is eventually up to the Parliament," warning that, "The 60's law does not achieve true Christian representation."
On another note, Gemayel accentuated, "If ousting the Syrian regime sounds dandy, its substitute remains vague, and Egypt, Yemen, Tunisia, and Libya haven't settled yet."

"Domestically, sectarianism tightens, the economic crisis accumulates, the hotels are almost empty, the markets frozen, and the financial mediums complain," Gemayel stated, highlighting that, "forming a saviour government would be the best option to face domestic and foreign challenges."

Source: al-Ahed News, translated and edited by moqawama.org