The media office of Prime Minister Najib Mikati issued the following statement: "Since the Cabinet's decision to appoint Major General Hassan Aouda as Chief of Staff, several politicians and journalists have launched a campaign against the decision, accusing the Prime Minister and the government of usurping the President's powers and staging a coup against the Taif Agreement. Some have even imagined fabricated scenarios about supposed communications between the Prime Minister and the President of the State Council, Judge Fadi Elias. Therefore, to clarify the truth, we state the following:
First: The Prime Minister did not consult the President of the State Council regarding the appointment, and there was no communication between them concerning this or any other issue. Consequently, all claims to the contrary are merely analyses and fabrications with known biases.
Second: The Prime Minister was clear in his approach to this issue when presenting it to the Cabinet, explaining the reasons for the decision and its necessity to ensure the stability of the military institution, after the Minister of Defense refrained from fulfilling his duty on this matter. It was essential for the Cabinet, exercising its collective authority, to make the appropriate decision. If some do not agree with the decision, there are several legal avenues that can be pursued to contest it. Additionally, the government will comply with any judicial decision that may be issued regarding any appeals, as the Prime Minister stated in the appointment session. He reiterated his commitment to the Taif Agreement and its provisions, emphasizing the importance of upholding its spirit.
The media campaigns launched against the Prime Minister and the government on this issue lack credibility and justification. Their aim is to create media spectacles, indicating that some seek an independent justification or appoint themselves as guardians over the actions of ministers and ministries and the rights of their sect.
In conclusion: No matter how many media tricks and vague expressions some may use, and regardless of the articles they commission with known orientations and funding, the glaring truth is that the government is managing the affairs of the state and citizens, while others refrain from fulfilling their duty to elect a new president, thereby restoring the full functioning of constitutional institutions. Elect a president to bring relief to Lebanon."
