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Aoun emerges as force in Lebanon politics as opposition falters
That's politics I guessMichel Aoun, who returned from exile in France to split the anti-Syrian opposition by winning a stunning victory in parliamentary elections Sunday, emerged yesterday as an unexpected power broker in Lebanon. "This is a country that should be built on sound foundations, the first of which is combating corruption in the state. But this was what turned everyone against us," said Gen. Aoun, who battled Syrian forces in 1990 and later fled to exile. Switching sides, the general allied with pro-Syrian elements for the elections and took 21 of the 58 seats contested in the central and eastern regions, Interior Minister Hassan al-Sabei said. The main anti-Syrian opposition alliance, led by Druze leader Walid Jumblatt and the son of assassinated former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, had 19 seats going into the third round of voting and needed an additional 46 for a majority in the 128-seat parliament. But Mr. Jumblatt's ticket picked up only 27 seats Sunday, giving it a total of 46, which was far short of a majority. The anti-Syrian bloc still has a chance to clinch a majority in the fourth and final round of voting this Sunday in the north, where the remaining 28 seats will be decided. The Syrian withdrawal this spring allowed Gen. Aoun to return from exile, but he failed to join the main opposition coalition. Instead, he formed an improbable alliance with some pro-Syrian Christians while claiming that the move did not reflect a change in his stance on Syria. Aoun supporters were quick to note that the general refused to sign or accept the 1990 Taif Accord, which ended the civil war and was signed by all major Lebanese groups, including Mr. Jumblatt, the Lebanese Forces and others, which allowed Syria to remain as an occupier. Even if the Hariri-Jumblatt opposition does not need Gen. Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement for a parliamentary coalition, the former leader has positioned himself for a run at the presidency, should President Emile Lahoud resign or be forced from office. Posted by: Paul Moloney 2005-06-14 |
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