Democratic Left delegate meets FPM leader in Paris

Alternative Staff

April 2005

PARIS -- A delegation from the Democratic Leftist Movement (DLM) visited exiled former Army Commander Michel Aoun, leader of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM).

Aoun is scheduled to return to Lebanon on May 7, 15 years after his deportation to France.

Sources close to the delegation told Altenative that the meeting was good and came in line with the DLM’s policy of bridging the gap with other political forces in order “to build a new Lebanon and destroy once and for all, the thousands of Berlin walls”  in the country.

Highlihgting the points in common, the sources said that the DLM and Aoun share a similar perspective on the importance of secularism in Lebanon. “We also share the vision of the necessity of initiating administrative reform and building a modern and transparent state by fighting corruption.”

According to the DLM sources, the two groups are worlds apart on issues pertaining to the shape of a future Lebanese economy.

While Aoun and his movement endorse free market economy, the DLM believes in the necessity of maintaining social justice through the state sponsor of social welfare programs.

The leftist sources also noted that “Aoun seemed to be impressed by the figure of the late French leader Charles De Gaulle. Thus, he believes in a system which is a copy of the French Fifth Republic: A very strong president and two political parties. We definitely disagree with this view.”

The DLM reported that Aoun was unable to answer questions about the Lebanese identity, the relationship with the US, Israel and the Arab countries or to state clearly whether he sees himself as a Christian or a Lebanese Leader.