Change and Reform Demands Cabinet to Carry out 'Stalled' Military Appointments

The Change and Reform bloc demanded on Tuesday that the government carry out the security and military appointments, calling on it to end “the flawed situation” in the country.

Former Minister Salim Jreissati said after the bloc's weekly meeting: “The cabinet should carry out the appointments seeing as it is not acting in a caretaking capacity.”

He stressed that it should perform the appointments according to the laws, adding: “The bloc will no longer tolerate the ongoing flawed situation.”

A dispute had erupted earlier this year between bloc leader MP Michel Aoun and Defense Minister Samir Moqbel over the latter's extension of the term of security officials.

Aoun had slammed the move, saying that the minister exceeded his privileges.

For his part, Moqbel defended his measure, explaining that it adhered to the constitution.

The MP went so far as to withdraw his confidence from the minister over the extension of the term of the head of the Higher Defense Council, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Khair.

The military positions in Lebanon are suffering as a result of the months-long presidential vacuum in light of the parliament's failure to elect a successor for Michel Suleiman. The vacuum also threatens the position of Internal Security Forces chief Major General Ibrahim Basbous who is set to retire in June.

M.T.

Y.R.