Free Patriotic Movement
Encyclopedia
The Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) (Arabic
: التيار الوطني الحر, Al-Tayyar Al-Watani Al-Hur), also known as the "Aounist Movement" (Arabic: التيار العوني, Tayyar Al-Aouni), is a Lebanese
political party, led by Michel Aoun
and allied with Hezbollah, The movement was officially declared a political party on September 18, 2005
Though most of the party's support comes from Lebanon's Christian
community, it also enjoys minor support from some Shia Muslims. The FPM party advocates secularism and the right to vote for Lebanese abroad. It is one of the allies of Hezbollah.
d in Paris
, he led the FPM from abroad. He returned to Lebanon on May 7, 2005 after the Cedar Revolution
forced the withdrawal of the Syrian forces, and then contested the legislative elections
held in late May in early June although it placed him on the head of the largest Christian group of deputies.
Aoun also contested the Cedar Revolution
which itself gave him the opportunity to come back to Lebanon
.
The FPM won 21 seats in the parliament, and formed the second biggest bloc in the Lebanese Parliament.
and the request for information about the Lebanese political prisoners in Syria
and the return of all political prisoners and diaspora in Israel
.
, and Hezbollah, according to the Internal Security Forces (ISF), gathered at Downtown Beirut trying to force Fouad Siniora
to abdicate.
as Minister of Telecommunications, and Mario Aoun as Minister of Social Affairs were elected into government. It is the Movement's first participation in any Lebanese Government.
granted the FPM 27 parliamentary seats. These results showed dis-improvement within the Christian votes, but despite this the FPM's bloc is the second largest in the Lebanese parliament. Based on statistics,FPM has lost about 25% of his popularity within the Christian vote in order to spread throughout the country at various ethnic groups of the Lebanese people
. He know only represents around 53% of Christians. The FPM gained 7 more seats then the 2005 elections
, earning at least triple the number of deputies of any other Christian-based bloc in the parliament due to geographical distribution. The total seats won were 57 out of 128, which led to a defeat for the FPM.
. The five ministers included:
, gaining more than double the share they had in the former government
The eleven ministers are:
Ministers with Portfolios:
Ministers without Portfolios:
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
: التيار الوطني الحر, Al-Tayyar Al-Watani Al-Hur), also known as the "Aounist Movement" (Arabic: التيار العوني, Tayyar Al-Aouni), is a Lebanese
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
political party, led by Michel Aoun
Michel Aoun
Michel Naim Aoun is a former Lebanese Army Commander and he is one of the allies of Hezbollah. From 22 September 1988 to 13 October 1990, he has served as Prime Minister of the legal one of two rival governments that contended for power. He declared "The Liberation War" against the Syrian...
and allied with Hezbollah, The movement was officially declared a political party on September 18, 2005
Though most of the party's support comes from Lebanon's Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
community, it also enjoys minor support from some Shia Muslims. The FPM party advocates secularism and the right to vote for Lebanese abroad. It is one of the allies of Hezbollah.
Aoun return from Exile
For many years, while Aoun was exileExile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
d in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, he led the FPM from abroad. He returned to Lebanon on May 7, 2005 after the Cedar Revolution
Cedar Revolution
The Cedar Revolution or Independence Intifada was a chain of demonstrations in Lebanon triggered by the assassination of the former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on February 14, 2005.The primary goals of the original activists were the...
forced the withdrawal of the Syrian forces, and then contested the legislative elections
Elections in Lebanon
Elections in Lebanon gives information on election and election results in Lebanon.- Parliamentary electoral system :Lebanon's national legislature is called the Assembly of Representatives...
held in late May in early June although it placed him on the head of the largest Christian group of deputies.
Aoun also contested the Cedar Revolution
Cedar Revolution
The Cedar Revolution or Independence Intifada was a chain of demonstrations in Lebanon triggered by the assassination of the former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on February 14, 2005.The primary goals of the original activists were the...
which itself gave him the opportunity to come back to Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
.
2005 Elections and rise of the FPM
At the time of the 2005 elections, the FPM came up with a detailed political program which contained economic and political reform plans and gained the support of many Lebanese Christians.The FPM won 21 seats in the parliament, and formed the second biggest bloc in the Lebanese Parliament.
Memorandum of Understanding between the FPM and Hezbollah
In 2006, the FPM signed a memorandum of understanding with Hezbollah organizing their relation and discussing Hezbollah's disarmament, given some conditions. The second and third conditions for disarmament were the return of Lebanese prisoners from Israeli jails and the elaboration of a defense strategy to protect Lebanon from the Israeli threat. The agreement also discussed the importance of having normal diplomatic relations with SyriaSyria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
and the request for information about the Lebanese political prisoners in Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
and the return of all political prisoners and diaspora in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
2006 Lebanese Anti-Government Protest
On December 1, 2006, Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun declared to a crowd of protesters that the current government of Lebanon was unconstitutional, claiming that the government had "made corruption a daily affair" and called for the resignation on the government. Hundred of thousands of supporters of this party, Amal MovementAmal Movement
Amal Movement is short for the Lebanese Resistance Detachments the acronym for which, in Arabic, is "amal", meaning "hope."Amal was founded in 1975 as the militia wing of the Movement of the Disinherited, a Shi'a political movement founded by Musa...
, and Hezbollah, according to the Internal Security Forces (ISF), gathered at Downtown Beirut trying to force Fouad Siniora
Fouad Siniora
Fuad Siniora is a Lebanese politician, a former Prime Minister of Lebanon, a position he held from 19 July 2005 to May 25, 2008 the date of the election of the new President of Lebanon; he was renominated to the post on 28 May 2008 and held the post as Acting President between those...
to abdicate.
2008 Government formation
On July 11, 2008, FPM members, Issam Abu Jamra as Deputy-Prime Minister, Gebran BassilGebran Bassil
Gebran Bassil is a Lebanese politician,he is also a member of the March 8 Alliance-backed Free Patriotic Movement. Owing to his immense qualifications he served as the Minister of Telecommunications in the Lebanese cabinet from May 2008 to June 2009, and then served as Minister of Energy in the...
as Minister of Telecommunications, and Mario Aoun as Minister of Social Affairs were elected into government. It is the Movement's first participation in any Lebanese Government.
2009 Elections
Despite the strong media and political war against the Free Patriotic Movement, the results of the 2009 ElectionsLebanese general election, 2009
-Background:Prior to the election, the process to lower the voting age from 21 to 18 years was put into motion, but as this requires a constitutional amendment, it did not happen before the election.- Allocation of seats :...
granted the FPM 27 parliamentary seats. These results showed dis-improvement within the Christian votes, but despite this the FPM's bloc is the second largest in the Lebanese parliament. Based on statistics,FPM has lost about 25% of his popularity within the Christian vote in order to spread throughout the country at various ethnic groups of the Lebanese people
. He know only represents around 53% of Christians. The FPM gained 7 more seats then the 2005 elections
Lebanese general election, 2005
The 2005 Lebanese General Elections were the first elections in thirty years without a Syrian military or intelligence presence in Lebanon. These elections were the first in Lebanese history to be won outright by a single electoral block and were also the first to be monitored by the United...
, earning at least triple the number of deputies of any other Christian-based bloc in the parliament due to geographical distribution. The total seats won were 57 out of 128, which led to a defeat for the FPM.
2009 Government formation
In November 2009, the Free Patriotic Movement nominated five ministers to join the first government headed by Saad HaririSaad Hariri
Saad-eddine Rafiq Al-Hariri is a Saudi-Lebanese billionaire who served as the Prime Minister of Lebanon from 2009 until 2011. He is the second son of Rafiq Hariri, the former Lebanese Prime Minister who was assassinated in 2005...
. The five ministers included:
- Gebran BassilGebran BassilGebran Bassil is a Lebanese politician,he is also a member of the March 8 Alliance-backed Free Patriotic Movement. Owing to his immense qualifications he served as the Minister of Telecommunications in the Lebanese cabinet from May 2008 to June 2009, and then served as Minister of Energy in the...
as Minister of Power - Charbel NahasCharbel NahasCharbel Nahas Nahas is the current Labour minister in Najib Mikati's second government as of June 2011. He is one of Eleven Change and Reform ministers, which is headed by General Michel Aoun, the largest share that it has ever had in Government...
as Minister of Telecommunications - Youssef Saade as Minister of State
- Abraham Dadayan as Minister of Industry
- Fadi Aboud as Minister of Tourism
OTV
The Free Patriotic Movement launched its own broadcasting channel (OTV) on the 20th of July 2007, and their own radio station called Sawt Al Mada (voice of scope in English) on June 1, 2009.2011 Government formation
In June 2011, the Change and Reform bloc led by Aoun nominated eleven ministers to join the second government headed by Najib MikatiNajib Mikati
Najib Azmi Mikati is a Lebanese politician, billionaire and is the current Prime Minister of Lebanon since 13 June 2011. From April 2005 to July 2005 he was Prime Minister of Lebanon in a caretaker government...
, gaining more than double the share they had in the former government
The eleven ministers are:
Ministers with Portfolios:
- Shakib Kortbawi as Minister of Justice
- Fayez Ghosn as Minister of Defense
- Gebran BassilGebran BassilGebran Bassil is a Lebanese politician,he is also a member of the March 8 Alliance-backed Free Patriotic Movement. Owing to his immense qualifications he served as the Minister of Telecommunications in the Lebanese cabinet from May 2008 to June 2009, and then served as Minister of Energy in the...
as Minister of Energy - Nicolas SehnaouiNicolas SehnaouiNicolas Sehnaoui , born April 23, 1967, is the current Lebanese Minister of Telecommunications in Najib Mikati's second government. He is also a high profile member of the Free Patriotic Movement, a political party lead by Michel Aoun, and was twice a parliamentary candidate for a Catholic seat in...
as Minister of Telecommunications - Vrej Sabounjian as Minister of IndustryIndustryIndustry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
- Fadi Aboud as Minister of TourismTourismTourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
- Charbel NahasCharbel NahasCharbel Nahas Nahas is the current Labour minister in Najib Mikati's second government as of June 2011. He is one of Eleven Change and Reform ministers, which is headed by General Michel Aoun, the largest share that it has ever had in Government...
as Minister of Labour - Gaby LayounGaby LayounGaby Layoun is the Lebanese Minister of Culture, announced as part of the new cabinet in June 2011. He represents the Free Patriotic Movement.-References:...
as Minister of Culture
- Marwan Charbel as Minister of Interior and Municipalities (merge power between Aoun and Michel SuleimanMichel SuleimanMichel Suleiman or Sleiman is the President of Lebanon. Before assuming office as President, he held the position of commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces. After LAF commander Émile Lahoud took office as president in November of 1998, Suleiman succeeded him, taking his place in December...
)
Ministers without Portfolios:
- Salim Karam
- Panos Manjian
- Marwan Kheiredine
External links
- Free Patriotic Movement - official website
- Free Patriotic Movement Message Boards (Official Forum)
- FLF in Germany: Freiheitlichen Libanesischen Freundeskreis e.V. German version of the FPM website.
- CPL en France : Rassemblement pour le Liban
- CPL en Belgique : Mouvement pour le Liban
- FPM political platform (in English)
- Memorandum of Joint Understanding between Hezbollah and the Free Patriotic Movement
- Charter of the Free Patriotic Movement Party