Lebanese caretaker Defense Minister Maurice Slim meets Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai in Bkirki, on Jan. 27, 2023. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — Caretaker Defense Minister Maurice Slim on Friday denied press reports that he intended to sack Lebanese Army commander Gen. Joseph Aoun, after a meeting in Bkirki with Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai, the state-run National News Agency reported.
"I have never mentioned the resignation of Gen. Aoun, and I am concerned about preserving the army and its commander-in-chief, while making my decisions based on the law, and not working according to a political agenda," the minister was quoted as saying.
On Thursday, the daily Al Akhbar reported that Slim accused Gen. Aoun of overstepping his authority and threatened to "ask the Council of Ministers to dismiss him" if he continued to "overstep the mark."
Slim and Aoun have been at loggerheads for weeks over the appointment of a new army inspector general since the retirement of Milad Ishac on Dec. 25. Under normal circumstances, cabinet is responsible for replacing the position on the proposal of the defense minister.
However, amid Lebanon's presidential vacancy, the caretaker cabinet is not empowered to make appointments.
Attempting to avoid a vacuum in the army inspection, Gen. Aoun proposed the extension of Ishac's mandate. But he was vetoed by Slim, who saw this as a breach of the law and himself nominated a successor.
For Slim, the choice of army inspector general belongs to the defense minister, as he exercises authority over the country's troops, a source close tot he case told L'Orient-Le Jour on condition of anonymity.
This dispute comes in the midst of a presidential battle with Gen. Aoun's name put forward as a possible consensus candidate, an option openly rejected by Free Patriotic Movement leaderGebran Bassil.
Maurice Slim is affiliated with the FPM.
In his statement after his meeting with the Maronite patriarch, Slim also said he did not participate in the two cabinet meetings held in recent weeks by caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, "out of respect for the constitution."
The cabinet, which is caretaker position following the May 2022 parliamentary elections, has held two sessions boycotted by some ministers close to the FPM, who accuse Mikati of assuming extra powers amid the presidential vacancy.