Future bloc slams Aoun over energy bill and for defending karam

The Future bloc slammed MP Michel Aoun’s Change and Reform bloc on Tuesday accusing it of “blackmailing the country .”

In a reference to the energy bill proposing to transfer $1.2 billion in funds to the Energy Ministry, the Future bloc said in a statement that Aoun’s bloc seeks “to avoid the supervision of Arab and international funds that give Lebanon soft loans.”

The bloc also slammed Aoun , who is also the leader of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) , or defending former Brigadier General Fayez Karam, a senior FPM official who was recently sentenced to jail for collaborating with Israel.

“We question the position of the FPM and its ally, Hezbollah, which is remaining silent concerning the FPM’s blackmail and defense of an Israeli agent.”

“How come Karam was only sentenced to two years in prison, while other collaborators are at least sentenced to 20 years?” The statement asked

Hezbollah reportedly knew that Karam, was collaborating with Israel from the moment he was arrested last year , an Arab diplomat told Al-Balad newspaper in an interview published last October 22.

“Hezbollah did not bring up the issue of Karam publicly because it took into account its alliance with FPM leader MP Michel Aoun,” the diplomat said.

Karam and Aoun went into exile in France following Aoun’s defeat by the Syrian army in 1990 and both returned to Lebanon in May 2005 , 11 days following the withdrawal of the Syrian army from Lebanon.

The Future bloc commended the Internal Security Forces (ISF) –Information Branch for uncovering spy networks in the country.