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Free Patriotic Movement

The Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) (Arabic: التيار الوطني الحر, Al-Tayyar Al-Watani Al-Hur), also known as the "Aounist Current" (Arabic: التيار العوني, Tayyar Al-Aouni) by opponents, 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. According to the results of the 2005 parliamentary elections, more than 70% of the Christian population in Lebanon supports the FPM.

Though originally, most of the party's support came from Lebanon's Christian community, it is gaining considerable support and sympathy from Muslims. The FPM party advocates secularism and the right to vote for Lebanese abroad.

Aoun return from Exile

For many years, while Aoun was exiled in Paris, he led the FPM from abroad. He returned to Lebanon in 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.

2005 Elections and rise of the FPM

At the time of the 2005 elections, the FPM had drawn up a political program which contains economic and political plans to rebuild the Lebanese economy and enhance the authority of the government over all of Lebanon's territory and to disband all armed Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias operating in Lebanon, including Hezbollah. Then the FPM won a big Christian support and the FPM and its allies won 21 seats in the 128-member National Assembly, obtaining support from 69% of Lebanon's Christians.

Memorandum of Understanding between the FPM and Hezbollah

On 6 February 2006, the FPM signed a memorandum of understanding with the Shiite Hezbollah. Among other matters, the road map to the disarmament of Hezbollah was agreed upon by both parties, subject to the Shebaa Farms, occupied by Israel, being declared Lebanese territory. 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 Syria and the request for information about the Lebanese political prisoners in Syria and the release of all political prisoners and diaspora in Israel.

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 Movement and Hezbollah, according to the Internal Security Forces (ISF), gathered at Downtown Beirut trying to force Fouad Siniora to abdicate.

2008 Government formation

On July 11th 2008, after the Doha Agreement that put an end to over a year of crisis, a new government was formed, with Fouad Siniora as Prime Minister, and with 5 members of the Change and Reform bloc headed by Michel Aoun, amongst which 3 ministries were handed to FPM members: Issam Abu Jamra as Deputy-Prime Minister, Gebran Bassil as Minister of Telecommunication, and Mario Aoun as Minister of Social Affaires. It is FPM's first participation in any Lebanese Government.

Orange TV

The Free Patriotic Movement launched its own broadcasting channel (Orange TV) in 2007.

Notes

OTV Launched officially in 2008 after a testing period of almost six months. OTV covers the world through different broadcasting channel for Europe , N.America (Canada , USA) , Australia and Middle east in addition to www.otv.com.lb live streaming servers for full coverage on the internet.