The Lebanese Parliament is facing a “heated” confrontation between the legislation of necessity and the election of the president
The army commander asks not to be included in the extension
Monday – 22 Rajab 1444 AH – 13 February 2023 AD Issue No. [
16148]
The Lebanese parliament was unable to elect a president, so can it legislate? (EPA)
Beirut: Mohamed Choucair
The Lebanese Parliament stands days away from the inevitable heated confrontation that the legislative parliamentary session will witness, if it is decided to convene next Thursday. It is not permissible to continue suspending sessions until the election of the president.
The legislative session to be convened makes its way in the event that the parliamentary presence is completed, and it is awaiting its agenda, which is prepared by the Parliamentary Bureau in its meeting today (Monday) headed by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, from whom it is reported that the legal quorum for its convening has become secured, unless he initiates. The “Strong Lebanon” bloc, headed by Representative Gebran Bassil, called for a reconsideration of its position by refraining from participating in it in order to accommodate the attack that it began to be subjected to by its opponents in the Christian street, who lead the call to boycott it.
Although the legislative session, if convened, will be the first following the vacancy of the first presidency, at the end of October 2022, whoever opposes its convening goes beyond its agenda to adhere to the constitutional provision that keeps the sessions open until the election of the president.
However, the participation of the “Strong Lebanon” bloc in the session is not sufficient to secure a quorum for its convening, unless the representatives of the “Democratic Gathering”, headed by Representative Taymour Jumblatt, and a number of Sunni deputies belonging to the “National Moderation” bloc, which stipulates that the extension of the Director-General of Security withdraw, withdraw. General Major General Abbas Ibrahim on the extension of the Director General of the Internal Security Forces, Major General Imad Othman, who will be retired in May of 2024.
Asharq Al-Awsat learned from parliamentary sources that the “moderation” bloc informed those concerned that its attendance at the legislative session depends on the extension of Major General Othman, and it will announce its position at a meeting to be held tomorrow (Tuesday) in light of the session’s agenda.
Also, according to the information, the “Democratic Gathering” held a joint meeting with the “Progressive Socialist” party headed by its president, Walid Jumblatt, and kept its sessions open, putting his participation in his approach to the agenda of the session in a joint meeting to be held tomorrow.
Parliamentary sources quoted Jumblatt as saying that the party and the “Democratic Gathering” adhere to their position by attending the parliamentary sessions devoted to electing the president, as well as the cabinet and legislative sessions. On the other hand, he warned that the necessary legislation session would provide parliamentary cover to enter into a quota.
And the sources asked regarding the reasons behind the participation of the “Strong Lebanon” bloc in the session of legislation of necessity? Does Bassil envisage, through his participation in it, passing the extension to general managers who do not belong to the security and military services, specifically those affiliated with him?
I also asked how Basil would justify to his fans and supporters the reconciliation between his boycott of the cabinet sessions and his participation in the legislative session? Is he reassured that his deputies will not deviate from his decision? And what will he say to the Maronite Patriarch Beshara Al-Rai, who stressed in his sermon yesterday (Sunday) that the parliament is an elective body, not a legislative body in the absence of the president, and that there is no legitimacy for the work of the government and the parliament in the event of a presidential vacancy?
On the other hand, political sources asked if there is an impossibility to extend the security and military directors without the parliament convening in a legislative session? The sources pointed out that the problem is not related to the extension of the security and military leaders, so that the extension does not extend towards the military institutions that are still carrying out their duties, while the country is rolling towards collapse?
The same sources also asked whether the political forces supporting the convening of a legislative session had information indicating that the presidential vacancy would be long-term, and that the necessity calls for avoiding a vacancy in the security and military institutions that unite the various political forces on their role in preserving stability, fortifying civil peace, and confronting those who try to breach it. With security, even though there is no political background to the incidents moving from one region to another?
However, the surprise lies in the fact that the Army Commander, General Joseph Aoun, anticipated the extension of the security and military leaderships by informing those concerned that he would distance himself from the extension, as long as he retires on 1-1-2024. Thus, he has enough time to remain at the head of the military institution to play his role in preserving stability and preventing its disruption.
As for why General Aoun is not enthusiastic regarding extending it? What are the reasons he relies on in defending his position?
To answer the question, it must be noted that General Aoun does not ask for an extension for himself following it was not possible to postpone the dismissal of three members of the Military Council who had been referred to retirement, which led to the impossibility of holding its regular meetings.
In this context, a political source believes that the extension of General Aoun may lead to confusion in the military hierarchy, in addition to that it is not possible for others, specifically Basil, to register that he will be grateful to him for his participation in the extension session, while he continues his campaign once morest him and places a veto on his election. President of the Republic, although he did not announce his candidacy, to the extent that it is customary in Lebanon for the army commander to leave his post immediately following the election of a new President of the Republic, who is supposed to be considered in appointing a successor.
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