A meeting was held last week at the residence of Naim Aoun, the nephew of former President Michel Aoun, and was attended by over 25 political figures interested in public affairs, including former Aounist officials. This meeting is considered the first step in preparing for the launch of a sovereign Lebanese national political front, following earlier contacts made to announce it.
At the end of the meeting, participants reportedly divided tasks to visit various Lebanese regions and establish contacts to attract individuals who believe in national principles to join this new movement.
Sources from the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) revealed that Gebran Bassil sensed discontent within the Aounist base following measures he took under the guise of “party discipline.” As a result, he decided to hold meetings with party officials, starting with the Metn region, where he conducted five meetings after being informed of a tendency among some officials to resign.
It is worth noting that tensions have been escalating within the FPM, which has been cracking down on dissenters or those not aligned with the party’s “hard line.” MP Alain Aoun was expelled from the party on August 2. On August 7, MP Simon Abi Ramia announced his resignation, while the position of Ibrahim Kanaan, the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Finance and Budget, remains ambiguous despite his recent attempts to mend rifts within the party.
