LF slams Mikati for seeking to 'illegally' extend Aoun's term in Cabinet
The Lebanese Forces on Tuesday noted that caretaker PM Najib Mikati’s call for a Cabinet session is “on the face of it aimed at extending General Joseph Aoun’s term but in reality aimed at blocking this extension.”
The LF, which supports the extension of Aoun’s term, pointed out that extension in Cabinet would require “the signature of the defense minister and, as it is known, he does not intend to make such a move.”
“Accordingly, Cabinet would make an illegal step that would be only aimed at blocking real extension in parliament, after a session for this purpose was finally scheduled after a long wait,” the LF cautioned.
It also warned that “an illegal extension in Cabinet would be very easily appealed and very easily annulled, which would plunge the military institution into major vacuum and chaos.”
Mikati meanwhile voiced surprise over the LF statement, noting that extension for six months in Cabinet and extension for a year in parliament “do not contradict with each other” and have the same ultimate goal.
The pro-LF Nidaa al-Watan newspaper meanwhile said that Thursday’s parliament session “will not reach a solution regarding extension due to a tacit agreement between the Shiite Duo and MP Jebran Bassil, who opposes extension.”
Under the alleged agreement, “the session would protract and be adjourned prior to discussing the extension article,” the daily said.
“The alternative would be another format that has been agreed with caretaker PM Najib Mikati under which Cabinet would take the extension decision and face an annulling appeal that has become ready,” the newspaper claimed.
“Through this exposed scenario, Speaker (Nabih) Berri and PM Mikati believe that they would be satisfying Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi and all those who support extension, whereas they would be betraying all the pledges that they have made in this regard,” Nidaa al-Watan said.
The al-Markazia news agency had quoted parliamentary sources who communicated with Mikati, who is currently in Geneva, as saying that he intends to call for a Friday Cabinet session to take a decision on the issue of Aoun’s extension, although the matter is on the agenda of Thursday’s parliament session.
