Report: Lawmakers Draft Petition Demanding Extension of Qahwaji's Term
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Several parliamentary blocs are drafting a petition to submit it to Speaker Nabih Berri, calling on him to hold a parliamentary session to approve the extension of Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji's term, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Tuesday.
According to the report, the blocs expressed fear that any vacuum at the head of the military institution would lead to instability and chaos.
A lawmaker, who refused to be named, told the newspaper that the petition voices concern that there is a plot targeting the military institution, stressing the importance of holding a parliamentary session.
The lawmaker lashed out at the parliamentary blocs and MPs that might boycott the session, saying that they will be considered as “conspirators.”
The extension, in addition to several other draft-laws, has been put on the agenda of a three-day parliamentary session that Speaker Nabih Berri has called for on July 16.
But caretaker Premier Najib Miqati and the March 14 alliance stand firm on boycotting it over their claim that holding such a session with a resigned government was unconstitutional.
The Change and Reform bloc, on the other hand, rejects the extension of the term of Qahwaji, who turns 60 this September – the retirement age for the army chief.
The Free Patriotic Movement led by MP Michel Aoun has said that since the post was reserved for the Maronite sect, then Christians before others should decide his successor.
09 July 2013, 09:41
11
"The Free Patriotic Movement led by MP Michel Aoun has said that since the post was reserved for the Maronite sect, then Christians before others should decide his successor."
I've said it before and I'll say it again, the general is racist. The general is supposed to be the leader of the LEBANESE army, not the christian wing of the LEBANESE army. The ex-general should start thinking about doing things that are good for the country instead of things that will stroke his ego.
10 July 2013, 03:08
00
That is so in Egypt because they do not have a majority Shiite like Lebanon does. So with help from HA we should be able to use the term secular with immunity. So the anti-cannibals should take Lebanon towards secularism with no problems
10 July 2013, 03:20
00
I agree with you the1phoenix on your analysis. Where we might diverge some is the root causes for such.... even though all played a part, HA is the constant in all of them
* HA (also Berri and Jumblat) was against holding parliamentary elections citing instability - (Aoun and Sleiman objeccted and I gave them credit for that). When the extension was challenged constitutionally who boycotted the Const. council meetings (HA, Berri, Jumblat)
* Salam unable to form a Technocrat Government because HA (and Berri) insist their representation in the form of the vetoing third.
* WHo is opposing the extension of Qahwaji's term .... again it is HA, Berri and Aoun.
So you find HA as the stumbling stone in all three issues paralyzing our Government as you mentioned.
The LAF are the only institution left that could stand in the face of HA's goal of transforming Lebanon into the image of Iran and they plan on chipping away at it whenever they can.
