Free Patriotic Movement

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Lebanon
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The Free Patriotic Movement "FPM" (Tayyar Al-Watani Al-Horr), also known as the "Aounist Current" (Tayyar Al-Aouni), is a Lebanese political party, led by General Michel Aoun "GMA", a former commander of the Lebanese army who served as 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.

Most of the party's support comes from Lebanon's Christian community. Also, recently the party is gaining support and considerable sympathy from Muslims. The FPM party advocates secularism, the right to vote for Lebanese Abroad and economic forensic Audit.

For many years, while Aoun was exiled in Paris, he led the FPM from abroad. He returned to Lebanon in May 7, 2005, and contested the legislative elections held in late May in early June. The Free Patriotic Movement and its allies won 21 seats in the 128-member National Assembly.

The FPM has 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.

On 6 February 2006, the FPM signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Shiite Hezbollah Party. Among other matters, the disarmament of Hezbollah was agreed upon by both parties, subject to the Shebaa Farms, occupied by Israel and generally recognized internationally as belonging to Syria, being declared Lebanese territory. The agreement also discussed the importance of having normal diplomatic relations with Syria and the release of all political prisoners and diaspora in Syria and Israel.