Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai presides over a meeting of Lebanese Maronite bishops in Bkirki on March 1, 2023. (Credit: NNA)
Lebanon's Maronite bishops called on Wednesday for a "final end to the destructive conflict" between the judiciary and banks, after a series of lawsuits filed by Mount Lebanon Public Prosecutor Ghada Aoun against banking institutions amid the country's ongoing financial collapse.
Meeting at Bkirki, the bishops stressed the need to "put a final end to the destructive conflict in which the judiciary and banks are mired, which could isolate Lebanon" from the financial world order.
This call echoes the one made by Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai on Sunday, who also defended the private banks and Banque du Liban, which is headed by a Maronite governor. The prelate denounced "personal and political conflicts," the consequences of which "harm the banking system and the reputation of Lebanon abroad on the financial level."
The Maronite bishops also expressed their "fear of a security slippage and an increase in crimes" and called on "security and military bodies to be more firm and determined to protect the country from the increase in security breaches and the gradual slide towards chaos."
They dignitaries also called on the caretaker cabinet to "show wisdom in carrying out its duties in accordance with the Constitution and the public interest, and avoid anything that may hinder the smooth running of public affairs." Najib Mikati's caretaker cabinet has met four times since the end of former President Michel Aoun's mandate on Oct. 31 to deal with "urgent" issues.
These cabinet meetings have been boycotted by Free Patriotic Movement affiliated ministers, who accuse the caretaker prime minister of wanting to arrogate to himself the prerogatives of the head of state.
Patriarch Rai has also repeatedly criticized Mikati's initiatives to convene his cabinet.