Gemayel Warns March 14 Allies of Marginalizing Party

Source: Al-Manar TV, 11-02-2009

Once again, the so-called  March 14 bloc seemed perplexed ahead of parliamentary elections believed to be "fateful" and "decisive"...
On Wednesday, another March 14 key figure, former President and head of the Phalange party Amin Gemayel, sounded the alarm, warning his allies before rivals...

Indeed, attempts to "undermine" his party seemed to "obsess" the former President who rushed to hold a press conference in order to make things clear. He warned the March 14 forces of seeking to marginalize the Phalange party, opening the door at the same time before possible alliances with ‘independents'.

Gemayel said it was "time for the Christians to regain their political role," following years of marginalization. "The representation of the Phalange is a guarantee for the Christians' participation in state affairs," he said in an apparent message to his political "allies."
"We are a force that has a presence and supporters in the Metn," he announced, urging the March 14 forces to make electoral alliances based on "partnership and democracy."

However, the things Gemayel did not say during his press conference were revealed by well-informed sources in the Phalange party to Al-Manar. The sources emphasized that the era of marginalizing the party's role and sacrificing it in the framework of political bargaining reached its end. "This era of marginalization is over; we reached a new stage," the sources stressed.

Phalange party sources uncovered differences within the March 14 bloc over the representation in different constituencies. Yet, the sources noted that contacts were still ongoing to handle the issue. "But some March 14 forces are seeking to re-gain the parliamentary seats they have lost due to the new electoral divisions at the expense of the Christian regions, and this is not acceptable," the sources asserted.

They also pointed that some unpopular March 14 figures were seeking to be represented by nonpartisans for fear that they might lose elections. "This is rejected by the Phalange party, the party that enjoys a high level of popularity acquired in more than 75 years," they concluded.

Yet, Gemayel didn't close the doors before a political settlement with his allies ahead of the elections, thus refusing to determine the final number of his party's candidates for the elections at this stage. He claimed that his hand was extended to all, revealing that his party was in continuous contact with the Tashnag party (of MP Agop Pakradounian). Gemayel also announced that he would meet with MP Michel Murr to agree on how to cooperate.

Gemayel said that the alliance with the head of the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc MP Michel Aoun would be a "miracle," noting that such alliance requires that Aoun affiliates with the Phalange party principles. "I wish Aoun would return to being Aoun," he said. "We previously fought the battle of independence and sovereignty together and achieved great results. We hope that we go back to the standards that brought us together in March 14," Gemayel recalled.

Gemayel concluded by regretting the assaults that were targeting the military institution, especially by Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea and the head of the Progressive Socialist Party Walid Jumblatt. He said that attacking the Lebanese army was a mere "heresy," stressing that the army constitutes a national institution with the President of the State as its top commander.