Search
Search

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Mikati: In the event of a vacancy, outgoing cabinet exercises prerogatives of the president

Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati meets with Druze leader Walid Jumblatt. 

Mikati: In the event of a vacancy, outgoing cabinet exercises prerogatives of the president

Prime Minister-designate Nagib Mikati (r) talking with the leader of the Progressive Socialist Party Walid Joumblatt, September 5, 2022. Photo Twitter/@grandserail

After Monday meeting with the head of the Progressive Socialist Party, Walid Jomblatt, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said that "in the event of a presidential vacancy, the prerogatives of the president would be transferred to the current caretaker government." 

President Michel Aoun's six-year-term will come to an end on Oct. 31.

Mikati's view is not unanimous among political leaders. The Free Patriotic Movement is fiercely opposed to the notion of a caretaker cabinet exercising the prerogatives of the president in the event of a vacancy. FPM leader Gebran Bassil said he "will not accept that a caretaker cabinet, which does not have the basic prerogatives to meet and make decisions and which does not have full powers, can replace a president with all those powers.”

This position is seen by many observers as a pretext for Aoun to cling to his post after the end of his term. The current government has been functioning normally since May 22, following the parliamentary elections, despite its caretaker status. Reappointed to his post, Mikati still has not succeeded in forming a new government. He and Aoun have been exchanging blame as to who is obstructing government formation from taking place.

Read more on this

Michel Aoun’s last battle

"There is no presidential vacuum, but a presidential vacancy," Mikati said in a meeting with Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, according to comments reported by the Grand Serail. "The Constitution is clear on this. In the event of a presidential vacancy, the prerogatives of the head of state will be transferred to the current cabinet."

"The Constitution advocates the transfer of prerogatives [of the president] to the government without specifying whether it is an outgoing cabinet or not," Mikati added, recalling that "the Constitution rejects the vacuum." Mr. Mikati also said that he "did not discuss directly" the risk of vacancy with Mr. Jumblatt, but he recalled that the head of the PSP "had considered that the prerogatives of the president are transferred to the cabinet in case of presidential vacancy."

The Prime Minister-designate met Tuesday with the Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. Berri argued Sunday that the last meeting between Aoun and Mikati, on Aug. 31, was "the worst of all and brought the discussion [on the formation of the government] back to square one."

"The atmosphere there was not at all encouraging," Berri said, noting that this pushed him to "take the decision not to interfere in the formation of a cabinet."

Presidential Elections

Regarding the presidential elections, Mikati said Monday that "all initiatives are good." "This must be manifested by participating in the parliamentary session to elect a president," Mikati pleaded, insisting that "this deadline must take place on time."

Berri previously stated that he reserves the right to determine the opening date of parliamentary sessions to elect Michel Aoun's successor.

For his part, the head of the PSP said he discussed several issues with the Prime Minister-designate, including electricity and the delineation of the maritime border with Israel.

These developments come as the American envoy Amos Hochstein, who in charge of indirect negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, is expected in Beirut at the end of the week, according to the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Elias Bou Saab.

After Monday meeting with the head of the Progressive Socialist Party, Walid Jomblatt, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said that "in the event of a presidential vacancy, the prerogatives of the president would be transferred to the current caretaker government."  President Michel Aoun's six-year-term will come to an end on Oct. 31.Mikati's view is not unanimous among political leaders....