FPM Slams Extension for Qahwaji, Vows No Silence over 'Insistence on Violating Laws'

W460

The Free Patriotic Movement on Thursday said it “strongly condemns” a decision by Defense Minister Samir Moqbel to postpone the retirement of Army chief General Jean Qahwaji, vowing that it will not “remain silent” over “the insistence on violating the laws.”

“It is a flagrant violation of all laws that can be added to the series of violations that the government has committed or overlooked in the domain of national defense and many other domains,” the FPM said in a statement.

“In his illegitimate and illegal decision, the defense minister relied on flimsy excuses that do not serve the military institution but would rather weaken it and harm the morale of its finest officers through depriving them of their natural and legitimate right to be promoted to the most senior posts,” the movement added.

And warning that it “will not remain silent over the insistence on violating the laws,” the FPM pledged that it will “do everything necessary to put and end to the continued destruction of the State.”

Earlier in the day, Moqbel announced that he would sign a decree extending Qahwaji's term before midnight.

“We will not accept vacuum in the military institution. I will sign a decision today to extend the term of Qahwaji since the cabinet failed to convene Thursday,” he said.

“Security threats are surrounding us from all sides,” the minister warned.

The FPM, which says it opposes term extensions for all senior officers, has recently suspended its participation in cabinet sessions in the wake of a decision by Moqbel to extend the term of Higher Defense Council chief Maj. Gen. Mohammed Kheir.

The movement has also suspended its participation in national dialogue meetings and threatened street protests and a “political system crisis” over accusations that the other parties in the country are not respecting the 1943 National Pact that stipulates Christian-Muslim partnership.

Qahwaji's term has already been extended twice since 2013 despite objections from the FPM, which had been reportedly lobbying for the appointment of former Commando Regiment chief Brig. Gen. Chamel Roukoz as a successor to Qahwaji.

Roukoz is the son-in-law of FPM founder MP Michel Aoun.

Comments 5
Thumb Elemental 29 September 2016, 19:32

This is coming from sellouts to their faith and are now more Iranian than Lebanese. I don't think their word counts for anything. Alrighty fake accounts come by and with your inbred whahabi/zionist assumption fetish, as you lack the ability to look beyond your takia programming. The biggest joke of all besides Mystic and Movaten with their fake accounts? Is these wonderful people hypocritically yelling "Illegal"...that's a laugh in itself.

Thumb Elemental 29 September 2016, 19:57

And Iran has a good track record with "Cristhians"? Very bias tric.movaten.

Thumb Elemental 29 September 2016, 19:59

They're just as bad as "meccas" as you put it, so why not mention them? Takia cheat.

Thumb Elemental 29 September 2016, 22:27

Refer to comments above ex_ex_movaten. If you weren't so inept you'd see I'm getting at the "s3oodi's" also, as you so humbly and childishly out it. Keep up the Takia and fake accounts you cheat.

Thumb shab 29 September 2016, 20:47

loool @ no silence