Rifi Expects Cabinet Failure to Extend his Term, to Transfer ISF Helm to Caretaker Chief

Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi stressed on Friday that he will hand over his post at the end of March, ruling out that the cabinet would extend his tenure.

“The extension of my term requires the votes of two-thirds of the cabinet, which will not be provided as more than half of the members reject the extension of my tenure,” Rifi told An Nahar newspaper.

A cabinet session at the Baabda Palace on Friday is expected to discuss the controversial matter.

Rifi pointed out that if the government failed to appoint a successor in his post he will directly handover the helm of the institution to caretaker general-director Brig. Roje Salem.

“I will return home but I will not resign from my national duties,” Rifi said.

Rifi has been the ISF chief for the past nine years and his mandate ends on April 1.

An agreement is needed between the March 8 majority coalition and the March 14 opposition over the extension proposal as it requires the cabinet to refer a bill to parliament for approval or an urgent draft-law proposed by at least 10 lawmakers to adopt it by an absolute majority.

Sources close to Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat stressed in comments published in As Safir newspaper the importance of extending the tenure of Rifi to avoid any vacuum at the head of the ISF.

“The security situation isn't comforting,” the sources said.

For his part, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea told the newspaper that during the “delicate situation” the country is passing through “officials are obliged to renew the mandate of security officers in leadership posts.”

Geagea expressed hope that Speaker Nabih Berri would call for a parliamentary session to approve the extension of the terms of heads of security and military institutions.

Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc MP Ziad al-Qaderi proposed recently an urgent draft-law to modify the retirement age of officers in leadership posts in the army, the ISF and other security agencies.

According to the proposal, the age of retirement for Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji will increase to 63 years, while officers with Maj. General rank would be referred to retirement on the age of 62.

Qahwaji's tenure also ends on April 1.