The Central Media and Communication Committee of the "Free Patriotic Movement" announced that, "Based on two recommendations issued by the Council of Elders in the movement, chaired by His Excellency President General Michel Aoun, the first on 18/4/2024, and the second on 13/5/2024, the President of the Free Patriotic Movement, MP Gebran Bassil, has signed a decision to expel MP Alan Aoun from the Free Patriotic Movement."
The committee indicated that "the expulsion decision was made based on the recommendations of the Council of Elders, after MP Alan Aoun repeatedly failed to appear before the Council chaired by President Aoun and insisted on his position by refraining from discussing the party violations he committed."
It added in a statement that "MP Alan Aoun violated the internal regulations of the movement multiple times, as well as the movement's decisions and directives, on political, organizational, and media levels, dismissing all attempts to convince him to retract his violations, including by the founder President Aoun, President Gebran Bassil, and many colleagues within the movement."
It continued: "The President of the movement waited a very long time before making any decision, hoping that MP Aoun would retract his violations, including his repeated refusal to announce his commitment to the movement's decision during the presidential election session on 14/6/2023, his refusal to attend sessions of the Council of Elders, his disregard for the movement's policies, and his absence from meetings of the political bureau and the political council, which placed the President of the movement before his responsibilities and party obligations; thus, he signed the expulsion decision in respect of the internal regulations and implementation instructions and to preserve the unity and dignity of the movement."
The statement confirmed that "respecting freedom of opinion enshrined in the movement and its behaviors is sacred but stands at the limits of the movement's unity and adherence to its decisions and regulations," noting that "losing any activist from the movement is a painful loss, especially if this activist has been an MP for years. However, the most important thing is to maintain the strength of the movement, protect its unity, and eliminate the risks of fragmentation and chaos within it, no matter the cost."
The statement also pointed out that "MP Elias Bou Saab was expelled on 6/3/2024 based on a recommendation from the same Council of Elders, chaired by His Excellency President General Michel Aoun on 26/7/2023, after violating the provisions of the internal regulations and not adhering to the movement's decisions and political, media, and organizational directions, following his admission of voting against the movement's decision during the parliamentary session on 14 June 2023 to elect the president, as well as his refusal to appear before the Council of Elders and his prolonged absence from the political bureau and the political council meetings, both prior to and after his violations. After his refusal to commit to the movement's regulations and decisions and his disregard for all the opportunities given to him to revert his violations and for all the attempts made by the President of the movement and some colleagues to dissuade him from his actions, the waiting period and opportunities lasted for about nine months without any results or response from him, leading to the issuance of the expulsion decision."
