Bassil Says Army Command Won't be Vacant if Qahwaji Retired
Free Patriotic Movement caretaker Energy Minister Jebran Bassil stressed on Friday the military institution will not be hit by vacuum if Army commander General Jean Qahwaji was referred to retirement.
“All the public institutions, in particular the security agency, can't suffer from vacant posts as the hierarchy prevents it,” Bassil said in comments published al-Akhbar newspaper.
He pointed out that the Internal Security Forces didn't suffer from any vacancy after ISF chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi was referred to retirement.
Acting ISF chief Brig. Gen. Roger Salem took over the post of Rifi after his retirement, who was succeeded in turn by Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Basbous last month.
“Only exceptional circumstances justify the adoption of exceptional decisions,” Bassil told al-Akhbar.
He noted that the caretaker cabinet, which established an elections committee to supervise the upcoming parliamentary polls, can appoint a new Army commander if a new government wasn't formed.
Al-Mustaqbal bloc MP Nouhad al-Mashnouq said for his part that “the bloc is holding onto ex-Prime Minister Saad Hariri's stance over the extension of Qahwaji's term.”
“We are looking for an adequate way to approve the extension draft-law,” al-Mashnouq said.
The FPM led by MP Michel Aoun has openly opposed attempts to extend the tenure of Qahwaji, criticizing al-Mustaqbal for seeking an extension.
Aoun said that since the post was reserved for the Maronite sect, then Christians had the priority before Hariri, head of al-Mustaqbal movement, to give their opinion on it.
But Hariri snapped back, saying the army was not owned by one sect.
Qahwaji's term ends this September when he turns 60, the maximum age for the post of the army commander.
Sharp dispute also emerged between the FPM and Hizbullah over the matter.
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