Aoun Withdraws Confidence from Defense Minister for 'Exceeding his Privileges'
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun announced on Tuesday that he is withdrawing confidence from Defense Minister Samir Moqbel after the extension of the term of Higher Defense Council chief Mohammed Khair.
He said: “We withdraw confidence from the defense minister because he has exceeded his privileges and overlooked violations at the military institution.”
He made his remarks after the Change and Reform bloc's weekly meeting at Rabieh.
Moqbel signed a decree to extend the term of Khair, who will reach the retirement age at the end of February, reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Monday.
For his part, Khair denied knowledge of such information, saying: “I can serve my country wherever I am.”
Aoun continued: “No legislative or executive authority or any power in the world has the right to harm the army hierarchy in order to extend the term of a security officer.”
He said that once an officer reaches the retirement age, his replacement should be made from the reserves.
Such a measure should be taken by the defense minister and his decree would then be approved by cabinet, explained the FPM chief.
Moreover, he condemned the various extensions of terms that have taken place in Lebanon, notably at the army “whose commander's tenure was illegally extended.”
“We fear that extensions would reach all aspects of the state and government. We have recently heard of discussions to extend the term of the Constitutional Council,” he added before reporters.
Commenting on the functioning of the cabinet, Aoun said: “It would not work properly if ministers are not granted veto power.”
The military posts in Lebanon are suffering as the result of the months-long presidential vacuum in light of the parliament's failure to elect a successor for Michel Suleiman whose tenure ended in May. The vacuum also threatens the Internal Security Forces as chief Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Basbous is set to retire in June.
The tenure of Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji was extended in 2013. It is set to end in September later this year.
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Source: Naharnet
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