FPM on Security Appointments: We Will Go Beyond Cabinet Resignation
The Free Patriotic Movement warned on Saturday that the party could take other measures beyond its resignation from the cabinet if the government agreed to extend the term of security officers, amid the inability to reach consensus on appointing new figures.
“The FPM could go beyond the resignation from the government if the latter made the mistake (of extending the term of security officials). Our allies have reiterated support to any move we take therein,” prominent sources in the FPM told al-Akhbar daily.
“The FPM's decision is very clear. If new security officials were not appointed, the government is going to face serious danger. It is even likely that there will be no government. We all know that the current cabinet is theirs (referring to the March 14 alliance) and its head is from their camp,” added the source in reference to Prime Minister Tammam Salam.
The cabinet is torn between either extending or appointing new security officials, whose term is about to end, in light of the inability to reach political consensus or two thirds of the cabinet votes on the issue, and the FPM's adamant stances to appoint new ones.
Meanwhile, informed sources told An Nahar daily that “the train of extending the term of security officials will kick off within two weeks, starting with extending the term of Internal Security Forces chief Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Basbous before his term ends on the 5th of June.”
Moreover, Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji's term ends in September.
Media reports had said that FPM chief Michel Aoun is seeking political consensus on the appointment of his son-in-law Commando Regiment chief Brig. Gen. Chamel Roukoz as army chief as part of a package for the appointment of other top security officers.
Roukoz's tenure ends in October 2015.
Aoun has denied that he had made such a proposal.
D.A.
H.K.
Source: Agence France Presse
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