(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Thousands of Free Patriotic Movement supporters staged a protest in downtown Beirut on Friday, to support Lebanese Christian leader Michel Aoun’s call for a presidential election by popular vote.
Aoun, who urged a heavy turnout at the protest, called for an end to presidential elections by parliamentary vote. He also invited FPM supporters to take to the streets “to call for fighting corruption.”
The sea of protesters waved FPM flags and held signs reading “At your service, General” and “We want new elections,” among others.
Lebanon has been without a president for more than a year because of a lack of quorum at parliamentary sessions. The 29th session will be held on September 30, but political analysts say the election of a consensus candidate is unlikely.
Aoun, a former army commander and presidential contender, is also protesting what he believes has been Christian “marginalization.” FPM supporters accuse Prime Minister Tammam Salam of usurping powers reserved for the president.
Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, who recently won the FPM’s presidency uncontested, spoke at the rally and echoed Aoun’s remarks.
“They thought that they could force us out of political life and squares, but we returned to this square and we will return it to all Lebanese,” Bassil said, referring to Beirut’s Martrys Square, where the protest took place.
“They want to deprive us of the dream and our dream is to have a state, not a farm.”
Bassil told a cheering crowd of supporters that citizens should rally for a president and parliament that represents all religions and regions.
“We want a ‘clean’ president who does not cover up for corruption,” Bassil said. “We the Lebanese should elect our president, not foreign forces. We won’t accept a ‘wooden president’ who does not understand people’s golden equation.”
Friday’s protest come amid a wave of anti-government rallies in Beirut, sparked by the current government’s inability to solve the trash crisis. The protesters are led by civil society groups who are seeking to unseat a political system dominated by the same political parties since the civil war.
Lucien Bourjeily, one of the founders of the ‘You Stink’ movement, which has led the recent protests, said it was “absurd” that Aoun was protesting against the government which he is part of.