President Michel Aoun addressed on Sunday the Lebanese nation in a televised speech on the occasion of the first Centenary of Greater Lebanon.
In his address, Aoun called for a secular state in Lebanon, undertaking “to call for a dialogue that includes the spiritual authorities and the political leaderships in order to reach a formula that is accepted by everyone and that would be embodied in the appropriate constitutional amendments.”
“The confessional system which is based on the rights of confessions and on quotas between them was valid for a while, but today it has become an obstacle before any progress or recovery in the country, a hindrance for any reform and fight against corruption, and a generator of strife, incitement and division for all those who wanted to undermine the country,” he added.
“Yes, there is a need to develop, modify, change the system...call it the way you like; but most certainly, Lebanon needs a new conception in running its affairs, based on citizenry and on the secularism of the State,” President Aoun stressed.
He concluded by saying that “Lebanon's youth are calling for change.”
“Are we listening to them? These youth are the Lebanon of tomorrow. For them and for their future, I say: yes, the time has come!” he said.