BEIRUT: Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun has reportedly threatened to pull out of the government unless an intention to extend the terms of senior security officers was dropped.
Local daily Al-Akhbar, citing sources it said were close to Aoun, added the FPM leader has expressed resentment about the behavior of his political allies who count on Aoun to go along with the extensions for the sake of consensus.
“If this continues ... We are headed towards a real problem,” one source said.
The sources pointed to the consensus-based decision making system adopted by Prime Minister Tammam Salam’s Cabinet in the wake of the ongoing presidential vacuum.
They said Aoun is seriously considering quitting the government. “Let them rule without the FPM,” one source quoted Aoun as saying.
On Tuesday, Aoun’s Change and Reform parliamentary bloc reiterated its objection to extending the terms of senior military and security officers.
“The bloc insists that the Cabinet should immediately put an end to these dangerous violations through the immediate appointment of Army and Internal Security Forces officials,” a statement at the end of the coalition’s weekly meeting said.
Aoun argues that extending the terms of security officials violates the National Defense law.
Defense Minister Samir Moqbel extended last month the term of Brig. Edmond Fadel, the director general of Army Intelligence, amid a lack of consensus on a successor, and in order to avoid vacuum in a security post when the country is going through a critical period.
Aoun in February said that he had lost confidence in Moqbel after the minister extended the term of another officer, Maj. Gen. Mohammad Khair, the secretary-general of the Higher Defense Council.
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