#free_patriotic_movement

Aounist party keeps schtum over Rai’s visit to #Israel
►http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/aounist-party-keeps-schtum-over-rai%E2%80%99s-visit-israel

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Lebanese Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai blesses Arab Israeli followers of the Maronite community during a procession from the Salesian Sisters Convent to the Maronite church in the northern Israeli city of Nazareth on May 29, 2014.(Photo: AFP-Menahem Kahana) Lebanese Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai blesses Arab Israeli followers of the Maronite community during a procession from the Salesian Sisters Convent to the Maronite church in the northern Israeli city of Nazareth on May 29, 2014.(Photo: AFP-Menahem Kahana)

It is rare for the #Free_Patriotic_Movement (FPM) not to be the first to react to issues that directly concern them, such as the visit by Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai to occupied #Palestine and meeting with (...)

#Lebanon #Antoine_Lahd #Articles #Beshara_al_Rai #Hezbollah #Michel_Aoun #SLA

Salam and the Christians in government work to prevent presidential vacuum
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/salam-and-christians-government-work-prevent-presidential-vacuum

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A picture provided by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) shows Saudi Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud (R) meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister #Tammam_Salam in Jeddah during the latter’s visit to the kingdom on May 20, 2014. (Photo: AFP/HO/SPA) A picture provided by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) shows Saudi Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud (R) meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam in Jeddah during the latter’s visit to the kingdom on May 20, 2014. (Photo: AFP/HO/SPA)

Since the presidential post will soon be vacant, the government of Prime Minister Tammam Salam will take center stage. Salam’s visit to #Saudi_Arabia will be the first step taken by the post-May-25-government. (...)

#Opinion #Articles #Beshara_al-Rai #Free_Patriotic_Movement #King_Abdullah_bin_Abdul_Aziz #Lebanese_presidential_elections #Lebanon #Maronite #Michel_Aoun #Michel_Suleiman

#Lebanon: Presidential void inevitable
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/lebanon-presidential-void-inevitable

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Lebanese members of parliament count the votes after casting their ballots to elect the new Lebanese president in the parliament building in downtown Beirut on April 23, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Joseph Eid/POOL) Lebanese members of parliament count the votes after casting their ballots to elect the new Lebanese president in the parliament building in downtown Beirut on April 23, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Joseph Eid/POOL)

Judging from what happened on April 23 and April 30, the upcoming sessions of parliament to elect a new president are only a facade until political factions can decide on a consensus candidate. The number of MPs attending – those who want to reach quorum and those who want to evade it – will dwindle week after week. The (...)

#Opinion #Articles #Free_Patriotic_Movement #Future_Movement #Hezbollah #Lebanese_Forces #Lebanese_presidential_elections #Michel_Aoun #Michel_Suleiman #Saad_Hariri #Samir_Geagea #Tammam_Salam #Walid_Jumblatt

Hariri decides: No to Aoun in Baabda
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/hariri-decides-no-aoun-baabda

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Lebanese member of parliament #Michel_Aoun holds a press conference following a parliament session to vote for the new Lebanese president in the parliament building in downtown Beirut on April 23, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Joseph Eid) Lebanese member of parliament Michel Aoun holds a press conference following a parliament session to vote for the new Lebanese president in the parliament building in downtown Beirut on April 23, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Joseph Eid)

The #Future_Movement's parliamentary bloc announced their support for Lebanese Forces chief #Samir_Geagea’s presidential bid on Tuesday, while former Prime Minister #Saad_Hariri met with #Free_Patriotic_Movement (FPM) ministers Gebran Bassil and Elias Abou Saab in Paris. The bloc’s (...)

#Lebanon #Articles #Hezbollah #Nabih_Berri

#Lebanon: No rush to elect a new president
►http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/lebanon-no-rush-elect-new-president

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Birds fly outside the parliament building in downtown Beirut as members of parliament gather to elect the new Lebanese president on April 23, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Joseph Eid) Birds fly outside the parliament building in downtown Beirut as members of parliament gather to elect the new Lebanese president on April 23, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Joseph Eid)

Just two weeks ago, the Solidarity Party could have organized an election rally at Forum De Beyrouth and invited representatives of the March 8 alliance. The party’s leader, #Emile_Rahme, would have taken the stage and read a presidential program prepared for him by a leading consulting company.

Ghassan Saoud

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#Opinion #Articles #Free_Patriotic_Movement #Lebanese_Forces #Lebanese_presidential_elections #Michel_Aoun #Saad_Hariri #Samir_Geagea #Walid_Jumblatt

#Aoun following his own path as presidential elections approach
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/aoun-following-his-own-path-presidential-elections-approach

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MP Michel Aoun. (Photo: Haitham Moussawi) MP Michel Aoun. (Photo: Haitham Moussawi)

MP Michel Aoun is still March 8’s undeclared presidential candidate. However, Hezbollah and Amal’s position remained the same on the pay raise for public sector employees, but to the alliance’s surprise, Aoun’s #Free_Patriotic_Movement (FPM) stood against it in parliament.

Firas Choufi

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#Lebanon #Articles #Emile_Rahme #Fouad_Siniora #Future_Movement #Ibrahim_Kanaan #Nabil_Nicolas #Walid_Jumblatt

Aoun-Geagea: Back to classic presidential face-offs
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/aoun-geagea-back-classic-presidential-face-offs

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MP #Michel_Aoun (L) and head of the #Lebanese_Forces, #Samir_Geagea (R), during the formulation of the Doha Agreement in 2008. (Photo: Bilal Jawiche) MP Michel Aoun (L) and head of the Lebanese Forces, Samir Geagea (R), during the formulation of the Doha Agreement in 2008. (Photo: Bilal Jawiche)

As soon as parliament gives its vote of confidence to the new government led by Tammam Salam, #Lebanon’s political factions are set to begin preparations for the upcoming presidential election. Yet it is not the constitutional deadline beginning on Tuesday that will be the starting gun for the expected showdown, but rather the fact the 2014 election has been preempted with new rules: two tough candidates who represent the upper (...)

#Opinion #Articles #Elias_Hrawi #Emile_Lahoud #Free_Patriotic_Movement

Will the Saudis get Aoun into #Baabda?
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/will-saudis-get-aoun-baabda

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French Foreign minister Laurent Fabius (R) shares a laugh with his Lebanese counterpart Gebran Bassil (2ndL) prior to their meeting at the French ministry in Paris, on March 4, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Thomas Samson) French Foreign minister Laurent Fabius (R) shares a laugh with his Lebanese counterpart Gebran Bassil (2ndL) prior to their meeting at the French ministry in Paris, on March 4, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Thomas Samson)

General #Michel_Aoun will not stand idly by while the deadline to elect a new president in #Lebanon approaches. It is his last chance to enter the presidential palace in Baabda again and he is willing to go great lengths to get there, even opening up to #Saudi_Arabia.

Lea (...)

#Articles #FPM #Free_Patriotic_Movement #Future_Movement #Hezbollah #Lebanon #Marada #Saad_Hariri

#Lebanon’s #Future_Movement : I Am Santa, Vote for Me !
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/lebanon%E2%80%99s-future-movement-i-am-santa-vote-me

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Christmas decorations are seen at a roundabout in the northern Lebanese coastal city of Tripoli on December 20, 2013. (Photo: AFP - Joseph Eid). #Christmas decorations are seen at a roundabout in the northern Lebanese coastal city of Tripoli on December 20, 2013. (Photo: AFP - Joseph Eid).

This Christmas, Lebanese politicians are spreading holiday cheer – so long as it fits their interests and the cameras are rolling. Politicians have found the time in their not-so-busy schedules to host parties and distribute gifts, suggesting to children they are Santa.

Roula Ibrahim

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#Articles #Free_Patriotic_Movement #Jezzine #Lebanese_Forces #Lebanon #Metn #Saida

#Lebanon: Can the #Free_Patriotic_Movement Survive Without Aoun?
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/lebanon-can-free-patriotic-movement-survive-without-aoun

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How can we talk about change in the leadership without the foundations of the institutions having been laid down first? (Photo: Marwan Tahtah) How can we talk about change in the leadership without the foundations of the institutions having been laid down first? (Photo: Marwan Tahtah)

Figures in #Lebanon’s Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) have proposed establishing a “collective leadership” to the movement’s leader, #Michel_Aoun. Though Aoun’s preliminary approval has been all but secured, it remains for the proposal to move from the theoretical to the practical.

Lea al-Qazzi

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#Articles

#Lebanon: Aoun to Resign in Six Months
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/lebanon-aoun-resign-six-months

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Sources within the FPM say that Aoun has begun discussing the matter in his meetings with party cadre, asking them to think about who is the best person to replace him as president. (Photo: Al-Akhbar) Sources within the FPM say that Aoun has begun discussing the matter in his meetings with party cadre, asking them to think about who is the best person to replace him as president. (Photo: Al-Akhbar)

Leader of the Free Patriotic (...)

#Articles #Free_Patriotic_Movement #Michel_Aoun