Cabinet to Discuss Controversial Retirement Age of Security Personnel

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Officials will kickstart this week a new round of negotiations to modify the retirement age of officers in leadership posts in the army, the Internal Security Forces and other security agencies despite reservations expressed by various political blocs and Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji.

Al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Monday that Prime Minister Tammam Salam is keen to push his cabinet to endorse the proposal and refer it to the parliament before the end of February when the tenure of the Higher Defense Council chief General Mohammed Kheir ends.

The daily reported that the Free Patriotic Movement and Qahwaji expressed reservations over the extension and the decree.

Another main obstacle faces the endorsement of such a decree as Speaker Nabih Berri is compelled to call for an extraordinary session to approve the draft-law by the parliament, which would be then referred to the joint parliamentary committees for further discussion if differences loom.

According to the daily, if the cabinet and parliament failed to endorse such a decree, then vacuum would hit the Military Council.

The current council is comprised of Qahwaji, Chief of Staff Walid Salman, and Kheir.

The retirement age is 58.

The tenure of Internal Security Forces chief Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Basbous ends in June, while Qahwaji's two-year extended term ends in September.

Observers had expressed fear over the matter amid the presidential vacuum as the extension of high-ranking security officials or the appointment of their successors requires the signature of the president or the 24 cabinet ministers.

The cabinet assumes the executive tasks of the president as stated by the constitution until a new head of state is elected.

The presidential post has been empty since May 25, when former President Michel Suleiman's term ended.

H.K.

G.K.

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