Aoun: Sleiman became the blocking third in cabinet sessions

Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun said following his bloc’s weekly meeting that appointments fall under the jurisdiction of a certain authority, adding that the procedural authority is the cabinet, and the president of the republic presides over the sessions, though he has no voice.                  

“We wanted Sleiman to play the referee but he wanted to take sides on the issue, becoming part of the blocking third during the cabinet sessions”, Aoun said.       

Aoun said that PM Najib Mikati went beyond his prerogatives and wants to impose himself as a dictator. “Mikati must periodically call for cabinet sessions according to article 65 of the constitution”, he said, wondering “in accordance with what article did he suspend the sessions?”       

“Manipulating the constitution is shameful, as if its articles have no value”, Aoun said.          

Aoun said that Shiites, Druzes and Sunnis ministers are executing their prerogatives and everything is going well except for the Christians. “The president did not make any move towards me; I am the one who has been coping with him since 2008”.           

Aoun stressed that his bloc is being attacked by the president and the prime minister, reiterating that Sleiman has no prerogatives. “We want to know who has the procedural authority in the cabinet”, he said.          

“The bloc will participate in the cabinet sessions should they be resumed”, he said, adding that during the fist cabinet session, the wage draft law will be passed.