Sources: Aoun's Attempted Challenge of Qahwaji's Term Extension is Illegal
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
A warning by Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun to challenge the extension of Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji's term is not likely to materialize after he was ditched by his allies, sources said Monday.
The informed sources told An Nahar daily that the Shura Council by-laws allow a person affected by the extension to make his challenge, which in this case does not involve Aoun.
The challenge should be made by an officer from the rank of brigadier-general. The sources ruled out any such move by around 350 brigadier-generals against their leader while they are in service.
Politically, Aoun was left alone in his rejection of the challenge after a member of his Change and Reform bloc, MP Suleiman Franjieh, was the latest to announce that he is in favor of extending Qahwaji's term.
The mandate of the army commander is expected to be extended Monday during a meeting of the Higher Defense Council under President Michel Suleiman at Baabda Palace.
Caretaker Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn, who is loyal to Franjieh, will make the recommendation for the extension of Qahwaji’s term in addition to the mandate of army chief of staff Lt. Gen. Walid Salman.
His move would come after the parliament failed to make the extension over the boycott of several blocs, including Aoun's Change and Reform.
Aoun threatened last week to challenge the extension despite being supported by his allies in the March 8 coalition – Hizbullah, Amal and Franjieh's Marada movement.
29 July 2013, 08:26
45
But Aoun is personally affected by the extension, he wants son-in-law #2 to be in control of the army... that is why he is doing all this whining.
29 July 2013, 09:25
43
Maybe he will have his son-in-law Roukoz challenge the extension?
29 July 2013, 09:21
64
What is really sad for Lebanon is that this extension is simply illegal. Aoun is the only main leader who defends legality. Lebanon can't be ruled by the force of compromised and under table deals...it can only be governed by Laws.
If some other dont understand that, the only solution that is left is PARTITION
29 July 2013, 11:08
33
Vicking you are right. Lebanon can only be ruled by the family members of Aoun and we should imagine that they will all have extensions after his great grand child makes Foreign Minister.
29 July 2013, 11:10
13
Would some of you please explain why it is so important to extend Qahwajis term while Ashraf Rifis had to leave ISF-office at retirement age?
30 July 2013, 01:28
00
Ft, so ur for rifi's extension?
No, what happened is M14 compromised on rifi, and now M8 is compromising on qahwaji. Only aoun is against it, because of his other son-in-law.
I agree tho, in a real world there is no reason to extend this guys term, he has no direct effect on anything. But I'd like to also say, in that same world, an MP fighting so hard to install his family members in high positions, is kinda shady, no?
30 July 2013, 01:46
00
I'm always shocked to hear we have a constitution. There are like 7 guys in charge of Lebanon, and democracy is just a way to legitimize them. We're a feudal society/system, some kind of federal system is starting to look like the best option.
