A Lebanese soldier stands in front of the Grand Serail. (Credit: Joao Souza/L'Orient Today)
BEIRUT — The meeting of the caretaker government was canceled due to a lack of a quorum after only eight ministers, including caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, showed up.
In a statement by the prime minister's office at 1:15 p.m., the meeting was postponed to next Tuesday. In order for the cabinet to be able to conduct business, there needs to be at least 17 ministers present.
By 1 p.m., only 13 ministers, including Mikati, had arrived. The ministers present were: Saade Chami (Vice-President-SSNP), Youssef Khalil (Finance-Amal Movement), Firas Abiad (Health-independent), Ali Hamiyeh (Public Works and Transport-Hezbollah), Najla Riachi (Administrative Development-Independent), Nasser Yassine (Environment-independent), Bassam Mawlawi (Interior and Municipalities-Azm), Moustapha Bayram (Labor-Hezbollah) Johnny Corm (Telecommunications-Marada), Mohammed Mortada (Culture-Amal), Ziad Makary (Information-Marada) and Walid Nassar (Tourism- independent).
The Council of Ministers was scheduled to meet at 12:30 pm to go over a 24-point agenda that look at issues ranging from Syrian refugees and deciding on the question of extending the mandate of army chief General Joseph Aoun, a subject that has been at the heart of political discussions for months.
Retired army personnel raises a sign that reads "where are our rights you thieves," near the Grand Serail prior to a cabinet meeting on Friday, 15 December 2023. (Credit: João Sousa/L'Orient Today)
An hour before the meeting was due to start, dozens of retired soldiers demonstrated outside the Grand Serail in an attempt to prevent the outgoing government from meeting at the scheduled time. They are demanding an increase in their pensions.
"We are the ones who have given our time, energy and sometimes our lives to this country, and now we are unable to live a decent life in our old age because our pension is worth nothing," a retired soldier told MTV during a live broadcast. The demonstrators held up placards reading, among other things, "Where are our rights, you thieves?" and "The rights of the army are sacred."
The question of extending the command of army chief General Joseph Aoun is at the heart of political discussions, especially as the Chief of Staff who would normally serve as interim successor has already retired in Dec. 2022. However, this extension has come up against the Christian veto of Gebran Bassil, leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, who has consistently sought to sideline Joseph Aoun.
The Lebanese Forces are determined to extend the army chief's term of office through Parliament. In this context, they have obtained an important commitment from the Speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berri, to the effect that Parliament will meet after the Council of Ministers to vote on a bill extending the term of office of the highest military official, regardless of the outcome of the Council of Ministers.