Suleiman Rejects Heading Interim Cabinet
Army chief Gen. Michel Suleiman has rejected a proposal to head an interim cabinet, saying such a move is against the constitution.
Future News TV on Monday reported that Suleiman”s visitors quoted him as saying the proposal is an outright violation of the Taef accord and averts efforts aimed at facilitating the election of the army commander president.
Only an elected president can appoint a head of an interim government. But Lebanon has been without a head of state since the term of Emile Lahoud ended. While bickering politicians have agreed on Suleiman as a consensus candidate, his election has been held up because the opposition is demanding veto power over government decisions, something the majority strongly rejects.
Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun was quoted Friday as proposing a compromise based on appointing Suleiman head of an interim cabinet that would sponsor parliamentary elections.
George al-Aaraj, representative of the so-called Liberal Tigers faction, told reporters he discussed the idea with Aoun.
“Gen. Aoun said the idea is part of his perspective,” Aaraj added.
Suleiman”s visitors also said that the army chief, who was scheduled to retire on November 21, insisted that he would leave his post on August 21.
They said he will spend his accumulated vacation days outside Lebanon.
According to the TV report, Suleiman also said that he would only accept parliament to extend his mandate for a short period but on another condition that the extension bill clearly states his functions on one side and that bickering politicians commit to elect a president on the other side.
His visitors quoted him as saying that he would have accepted for the defense minister to make the extension proposal and the cabinet to agree on it. But given the current situation in Lebanon, extension of his mandate should be made by parliament.
Suleiman reportedly was also not against the appointment of Army Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Shawki Masri as his successor.
The army commander reassured the Lebanese that the security situation is stable in Lebanon.
“The situation is stable and there is no fear of any security jolts particularly that the armed forces” are working hard to keep security tight.