Amid rising living pressures, it has recently been reported that elements and officers are fleeing from the army and internal security due to economic motives, as their earnings no longer meet their basic needs. Is the rate of "desertion" from the military and internal security forces alarming, and to what extent does the economic crisis encourage some to shift from being law enforcers to fugitives from the law?
If the economic situation continues to deteriorate, there are concerns that this could lead to a weakening of security and military institutions and a decrease in their resilience, knowing that these institutions have become the last line of defense in a faltering state. Therefore, the spread of "weakness" to them would facilitate the expansion of chaos. In this regard, Minister of Interior Mohammad Fahmy told Al-Jumhuriya newspaper that "there is no unusual phenomenon of desertion by elements or officers from the security apparatus," pointing out that "the recorded cases are few and fall within the normal annual rates, so there is no cause for concern." He notes that, despite the difficult economic conditions that negatively affect the living circumstances of members of security and military institutions, it is still better for a security officer to remain in service because they would at least benefit from the services and benefits provided by the internal security forces, such as medical care, among others.
Fahmy added, "While the purchasing power of the salary received by the security officer is eroded under the rising dollar value, what alleviates this for them is the social guarantees they receive from their institution. On the other hand, fleeing from the service would deprive them of these benefits." He pointed out that "a security man who flees from service will not easily find another job to increase his income, as he will become pursued and chased, ultimately being forced to hide from view and unable to easily find alternative work, especially if legal documents are required for his employment. Once detained, he would be prosecuted and expelled from the security apparatus."
Fahmy revealed that "there is a standing decision not to grant elements and officers of security forces travel permits, as every individual is needed at this stage, unless there are unavoidable and humanitarian reasons justifying exceptions." He emphasized "the necessity of forming a government immediately to address the accumulated crises and tackle them, as this is the only way to relieve the pressures on citizens and those working in military and security institutions alike."
On another note, Fahmy clarified that Chairman of the Parliament Nabih Berri, during his call with him a few days ago, emphasized the importance of conducting by-elections from the perspective of adhering to the constitution and consensus. He confirmed that he is ready to organize the elections if the political authority decides to hold them. "We at the ministry are preparing for them as if they are happening by default, though there are health, logistical, and financial obstacles that could impede their occurrence. Ultimately, the final decision rests with the President of the Republic and the caretaker Prime Minister."
He explained that he previously submitted a draft decree on February 12 specifying the election date for March 28, indicating that this date will certainly be adjusted if the decision to organize the elections is issued late.
