Lebanese MP Anwar al-Khalil, a member of the Development and Liberation bloc headed by parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, launched an attack on President Michel Aoun, saying that the Constitution and laws were “violated almost continuously” during his tenure and stressing that the government was suffering from internal divisions.
While Khalil began his open letter by asserting that it represents his personal opinion, presidential sources and a number of deputies of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), which was founded by Aoun, refused to comment on his remarks, while others replied by saying: “We did not read the message.”
“This is not the first time that Khalil launches accusations against Aoun,” FPM sources told Asharq Al-Awsat, asking for evidence about constitutional violations.
“Berri had previously said that Khalil was expressing his own opinion, which was clearly stated in the deputy’s message,” the sources added.
In his letter, Khalil pointed to “repeated words and deeds showing that the government is not doing well, and the divisions within it from the top of the pyramid to the last minister are clear and explicit.”
The deputy spoke of “matters that deeply affect the course of the nation’s unity and the process to stop the continuous deterioration in the relationship between the components of the country and its political parties and the horrific economic and financial fragmentation.”
Addressing Aoun, he said: “The Constitution, laws and national partnership have been violated almost continuously since the beginning of your tenure, and the examples are many...”
“What happened to your economic and social reform? During your auspicious era, economic indicators in Lebanon have fallen to the lowest levels to be only preceded by Venezuela, which occupies the worst and last place.” he remarked.
Khalil warned against “the social explosion that has begun to materialize and will expand into boundless limits, because the hungry and rightful will not let you live in peace.”