Army chief's term will likely be extended by parliament

The choice of extending the army chief’s term is advancing amid U.S., Qatari and French pressure in this regard and support from Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, parliamentary sources said.

“The extension will be passed through a parliamentary law raising the retirement age of officers of the ranks of general and major general, because postponing the retirement of the army chief (by the government) would require the defense minister’s signature, and any bypassing of him would subject Cabinet’s decision to an appeal before the State Shoura Council,” the sources added, in remarks to a-Binaa newspaper published Friday.

“Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri intends to schedule a session for next month (December) after holding a meeting of parliament’s bureau in order to set the session’s agenda, which will include raising the retirement age as per draft laws proposed by several blocs,” the sources added.

The sources also noted that “the session’s quorum is 65 MPs” and that “33 votes” would be sufficient for any draft law to be passed.