Aoun Hits Back at Critics: My Stances Correspond to Law, Constitution
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun reiterated on Friday that a decision to extend the term of more than 20 officers in different posts “violates the adopted norms.”
“Some (politicians) are using a political rhetoric and intentions instead of referring to the law and the constitution,” Aoun said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.
He expressed surprise over “the use of misleading facts and linking my objection to politics and the presidential elections.”
The FPM chief lashed out at critics “who are also turning the matter personal by insisting on including the name of (Commando Regiment chief Brig. Gen. Chamel) Roukoz's name in the debate.”
Media reports had said Defense Minister Samir Moqbel had abstained from including the name of Roukoz, who is Aoun's son-in-law, in the list of extension.
Roukoz's tenure ends in October 2015.
“My stance is not linked to the presidency or the family, but strictly based on respecting the state institutions... no more nor less,” Aoun told the newspaper, in response to claims that he aims at pushing Roukoz to head the army if he failed to reach the Baabda Palace.
Lebanon has been without a president since the end of President Michel Suleiman's tenure in May over a sharp debate between the March 14 and 8 coalitions on his successor.
On Tuesday, Moqbel was at loggerheads with the FPM after Aoun decided to withdraw confidence from him over the extension of the term of the head of the Higher Defense Council, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Khair.
The FPM described Moqbel's extension decision as “illegal,” arguing that the defense minister's jurisdiction state that he can extend the terms under the authority of a president.
The tenure of Khair expires on February 22.
The military positions in Lebanon are suffering as the result of the months-long presidential vacuum in light of the parliament's failure to elect a successor for Suleiman. The vacuum also threatens the position of Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Basbous who is set to retire in June.
The tenure of Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji is also set to end in September. His term was extended for two years in September 2013.
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