The Council of Ministers gathered at the Grand Serail in Beirut, November 29, 2023. Photo drawn from the X account of the Presidency of the Council
BEIRUT – The caretaker government of Prime Minister Najib Mikati is scheduled to convene on Friday at 12:30 p.m. for a meeting at the Grand Serail, the head of the council announced Wednesday. A 24-point agenda awaits the government's members, with the Syrian refugee issue taking the lead.
The governmental meeting will follow a plenary session of Parliament set to primarily address the future of the Lebanese Army's commander, General Joseph Aoun, as his term is set to expire on Jan. 10. Concerns are rising about a potential leadership vacuum in the military.
The question of extending General Aoun’s command is central to political discussions, particularly as the chief of staff who would normally serve as the interim successor already retired in Dec. 2022. However, the extension faces a Christian veto from Gebran Bassil, leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, who is steadfast in sidelining Joseph Aoun.
In light of the parliamentary session on Thursday, which is expected to discuss the extension of the army commander's mandate, Mikati's move suggests that a resolution may be settled in the Council of Ministers meeting instead. According to political insiders, the parliamentary session is expected to extend beyond Thursday and stumble before reaching the issue of mandate extension. The Council of Ministers would then decide on Friday, potentially delaying Joseph Aoun's retirement by six months. Following this, the Free Patriotic Movement would likely challenge the decision before the State Council, a tactic deemed more secure than contesting the validity of a law passed by the legislative body before the Constitutional Council. This scenario would allow Mikati and Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri, with Hezbollah's backing, to distance themselves from the case's repercussions without upsetting the Maronite Patriarchate and the Christian majority pushing to retain Joseph Aoun.
The caretaker government, only managing day-to-day affairs since President Michel Aoun's term ended in Oct. 2022, is not authorized to make new appointments and, therefore, cannot appoint a successor to the army chief.