The Free Patriotic Movement
- The Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), also known as the 'Aounist Current', is a Lebanese political party led by Michel Aoun, a former commander of the Lebanese army who served as a transitory Prime Minister of one of two governments that contended for power in the final years of the Lebanese Civil War (1988-1990). The movement was officially declared a political party on September 18, 2005.
During the Lebanese Civil War in September 1983, Aoun's multi-confessional 8th Mechanised Infantry Battalion fought the Lebanese National Movement and the Palestinians militias at the battle of Souq el Gharb. In 1984, Aoun was chosen to be commander of the Lebanese army.
On September 22, 1988, the outgoing President Amine Gemayel, dismissed the civilian administration of Prime Minister Selim al-Hoss and appointed a six-member interim military government, composed of three Christians and three Muslims, though the Muslims refused to serve. Al-Hoss declared his dismissal invalid. Two governments emerged - one civilian and mainly Muslim in West Beirut, headed by Al-Hoss, the other, military and mainly Christian, in East Beirut, led by Michel Aoun acting as Prime Minister. Aoun could rely on 60% of the Lebanese army, including nearly all tanks and artillery, the Lebanese Forces militia headed by Samir Geagea, the National Liberal Party led by Dany Chamoun, as well as the support of Iraq's President Saddam Hussein. Aoun controlled parts of east Beirut and some suburbs. In the Spring of 1989, the alliance with the Lebanese Forces fell apart.
On March 14 1989, Aoun declared Liberation war against the Syrian army. The Syrians were supported by the US government. Over the next few months Aoun's army and the Syrians exchanged artillery fire in Beirut until only 100,000 people remained from the original 1 million, the rest fled the area.
In October 1989 Lebanese National Assembly members met to draw up the Taif Accord in an attempt to settle the Lebanese conflict. Aoun refused to attend, denounced the politicians who did so as traitors and issued a decree dissolving the assembly. After it was signed, Aoun denounced the Accord for not appointing a real date for the withdrawal of the Syrian army from Lebanon. After they signed the Taif Accord, the assembly met to elect René Moawad as President in November. His presidency lasted just 17 days before he was assassinated, and Elias Hrawi was elected in his place. After assuming office as president, Hrawi appointed General Émile Lahoud as commander of the army and ordered Aoun out of the Presidential Palace. Aoun rejected his dismissal. Later his position was weakened by a very destructive and bloody war with the Lebanese Forces that lasted from January to October 1990.
On October 13, with American permission, Syrian forces attacked the presidential palace in Baabda, where Aoun was holed up. Not very long after the attacks, Aoun was asked to leave Lebanon with the full support of the French Ambassador, there he surrendered to Syrians via a radio address, leaving his troops at the mercy of the Syrian forces. Ten months later Aoun went into exile in France, where he led the Free Patriotic Movement.
In 1999, Prime Minister Rafik Hariri says that Aoun can return to Lebanon with the guarantee that he will not be arrested. He was uncertain of how Syria would act, and stayed abroad.
The FPM participated with other lebanese parties against the syrian effects on the lebanese politics. They also also contested the Cedar Revolution that forced the withdrawal of the Syrian forces. In May 7, 2005, Aoun returned to lebanon.
Later the FPM Participates in massive opposition demonstration calling for the resignation of the Siniora government.
In the parliamentary election at the end of May 2005, Aoun surprised many observers by entering into electoral alliances with a number of former opponents, including some pro-Syrian politicians, Michel Murr and Suleiman Frangieh, The 14 March coalition did the same however by forming the Quadruple alliance with Hezbollah and Amal, two of the biggest pro-Syrian parties in Lebanon. Aoun opposed the March 14 parliamentary coalition.
After that the FPM joins the March 8 Alliance and Participates in many opposition demonstrations calling for the resignation of the Siniora government.
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