Former FPM MP said the Free Patriotic Movement won’t give up the Bassil’s electricity draft plan stressing that the party’s commitment to gov’t Unity became in danger!

Former MP Salim Aoun to Al-Manar Website:
We Came to Make Change not to Change!
Efforts Ongoing but We Will Not Give Up Plan
We Will Not Offer Free Gifts… Options Open
We Can’t Remain in Power without Achieving
They Blackmailed Us… to Adopt Electricity Bill
Quotas and Delusion Logic Must Be Broken
Our Commitment to Gov’t Unity in Danger!

Lebanese former lawmaker Salim Aoun declared that the Free Patriotic Movement will not give up the electricity draft plan prepared by Energy Minister Gebran Bassil. He stressed that the success of the plan is the interest of all the government’s constituents, and warned that failure to approve the plan would obstruct the whole work of the new majority.

In an exclusive interview with Al-Manar Website, Aoun noted that all options were open for the Change and Reform bloc in case the government failed to approve the plan. He highlighted that the Free Patriotic Movement was not ready to remain in power without being able to advance and make change.

While speaking of attempts made by the current opposition to “blackmail” the FPM, he denounced the process of deluding the public opinion as well as the logic of “quotas” adopted by the politicians. He said that differences within the government constitute the best answer to claims that it was a one-color cabinet, and noted that he shares the public’s question marks concerning the ability of the government to face the upcoming challenges.

MAJORITY FORCES THREATENED…
The former Change and Reform MP told Al-Manar Website that all the majority’s constituents had an interest in the approval of the electricity draft plan set by Energy Minister Gebran Bassil. He noted that delaying the decision in this regard until Wednesday was an opportunity to reach consensus, given that failure to approve this plan would obstruct the whole majority work and prevent it of advancing in any other topic or file.

Aoun revealed that essential allies to the Free Patriotic Movement, i.e. Hezbollah and AMAL movement, were making efforts to find exits to the current crisis, that do not take the form of compromises. He stressed the issue concerns everyone, not only the FPM, given that the whole Lebanese society would benefit in case the draft law was approved.

Answering a question about the secret behind the refusal of the plan, Aoun said that, personally, he has no explanation for this. “I feel embarrassed to talk about this out of fear to obstruct the ongoing efforts. I prefer to await the September 7 session and its outcome. If the plan was not endorsed, we would be obliged to be even more frank with the public opinion. If so, our commitment to the government’s unity would not be the same as it is today.”

ALL OPTIONS OPEN
Asked about the options which the Free Patriotic Movement could resort to in such case, Aoun said that all options were open. “Things are not limited to the cabinet. Positivity should also be reflected at the Parliament, given that the electricity draft law, submitted by the head of the Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun, is still on agenda,” he added.

While wondering about the role of the civil society forces in raising the voices and pressuring the lawmakers to approve the plan, he stressed the necessity to balance between the strengths and weaknesses of any move. He said the FPM would not accept to provide its rivals with free gifts or to take the country into abyss, given the regional changes and external pressures surrounding the region.

Yet, Aoun confirmed an essential equivalence, whatever was the next move. “The Change and Reform bloc will not give up its reform plan, not only because it benefits everybody in the Lebanese state, but also because the Free Patriotic Movement is not ready to remain in power without being able to achieve anything,” he stressed. “There is a specific political logic based on fighting the Change and Reform bloc for political reasons. They might not want a new approach in politics, given that we came to the government to make change not to be changed.”

WHERE IS TECHNICAL CONFLICT?
While confirming that the Change and Reform bloc was serious in its approach as it is seeking to safeguard its political line, he hailed the latest statement made by the head of the National Struggle Front MP Walid Jumblatt who denied any political significance of the current conflict and stressed his reservations over the electricity plan were only technical. However, he hinted it was difficult for him to believe such claims since his political bloc could understand where this technical conflict resides.

Aoun recalled that the mentioned plan was not new and that it was already approved, in principle, by the former government, headed by Saad Hariri, where all factions, including Jumblatt himself, backed it as excellent. He noted that it was also mentioned in the current government’s policy statement. He spoke of efforts to “blackmail” the FPM, in relation with the electricity plan, as if it only benefits the FPM or its people, without others. 

ONE-COLOR GOVERNMENT?!
The former MP denounced what he called the process of deluding the public opinion. He pointed to claims that Energy Minister was seeking to steal the money dedicated for the plan, and wondered whether Minister Bassil would put the money in his pocket and take them home. He stressed such cause was not subject to any deal of any kind.

He concluded that those who are rejecting the plan do not want the Change and Reform bloc to succeed. “They think that the success of the plan would benefit the Free Patriotic Movement, and this is what they do not want,” he said. He also stressed the necessity to break the “quotas’ logic”.

Answering a last question about the ability of the government, which was accused at the beginning to be a one-color government, of facing upcoming challenges, given its differences, Aoun said: “Not only the Lebanese are raising such questions. Personally, although I represent an essential party represented in the government, I share the same questions. Yet, these differences represent the best response to all claims that the government is a one-color government, or what they used to call Hezbollah government. Yet, we blame ourselves for entering in a new alliance and appointing a new premier without discussing his political project’s outlines.”

“We presented ourselves as solution owners. That’s it. It’s a shame to stand unable to achieve anything. It’s even worse to justify the current situation.”