President Michel Aoun. (Credit: Dalati and Nohra)
BEIRUT — The press office of the Lebanese presidency issued a statement Saturday saying that President Michel Aoun is committed to “respecting his constitutional oath in the face of the presidential deadline” and insists on the importance of “national partnership” in the formation of a new government. In the statement, Baabda also denounced the campaigns conducted by “some politicians and media aimed at stirring sectarian strife.”
Here's what we know:
• “President Aoun’s position on the formation of the government is based on the need to preserve the national partnership and the document of national understanding, as well as on the importance of maintaining the positive atmosphere,” the Baabda press office said in its statement. “The head of state respects his oath regarding the presidential deadline. During his term, he has exercised his prerogatives and has not perjured his oath,” the text added.
• Baabda went on to denounce many “false” statements that have been attributed to Aoun since the beginning of government negotiations. “These are only allegations about the intentions” of the parties concerned, the statement read, which also accused “some politicians and journalists of stirring sectarian strife” on behalf of internal and external parties that aim to destabilize the country. The presidency therefore warns against the “malicious intentions of the authors of such campaigns,” who are responsible for “great crimes against the rights of the Lebanese,” the statement read.
• The statement was issued by Baabda Palace with the deadline for the election of a new president, between Aug. 31 and Oct. 31, just days away, and some observers fear a presidential vacuum, in addition to the ongoing government vacuum — Lebanon’s cabinet has been serving in a caretaker capacity since it assumed the status in the aftermath of parliamentary elections in May.
• Some believe that in the event of a potential presidential vacuum, Michel Aoun could refuse to leave office after his term expires.
• On Thursday, a visitor to the president reported that Aoun had said that a cabinet in charge of current affairs cannot assume the prerogatives of the president of the republic, while also assuring that he will leave the presidential palace on Oct. 31.