The Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi met at Bkerke with a delegation from the Strong Republic bloc and the Lebanese Forces party, appointed by party leader Samir Geagea to address issues related to irregularities in customs appointments and other matters concerning the public sector. The delegation included MPs Ziad Hawat and Razi Al-Haj, the head of the communication office with spiritual authorities Antoine Morad, and the head of the public sector department Joseph Abdo.
After the meeting, Hawat stated: "It is very regrettable what we have reached in terms of violations and breaches of the constitution and the formula of partnership and national balance:
1. The rejection of laws, which are closely linked to the president's powers, is a blatant disregard for the president's role, reaffirming for the thousandth time the necessity of electing a president as soon as possible. Therefore, we demand President Berri to swiftly call for a session to elect a president in consecutive rounds until we reach a president who restores balance in the country and organizes the institutions.
2. Regarding the recent appointments by the Council of Ministers, there was a clear and explicit constitutional violation by neglecting the consideration of partnership and national balance through the appointment of a large number of customs officers from one sect, which constitutes a blatant breach. The cabinet decision circumvented the State Shura Council's resolution, which stipulated the right to appoint customs officers for nine individuals who filed a review before the council. It was unacceptable to appoint all those who were excluded in addition to the nine, representing a clear breach of sectarian balance."
He added: "Here we ask, what remains of the rule of law and rights when the state itself violates a ruling from the head of administrative judiciary in Lebanon? We demand an immediate reversal of the Council of Ministers' decision to appoint customs officers, and if there is an urgent need for customs officers, a new competitive examination should be held that considers the requirements of national balance and coexistence, widely announced to allow the largest possible segment to apply for the exam."
Hawat continued: "The negligence resulting from the closure of real estate offices in Mount Lebanon causes severe losses for both the public and private sectors and destroys significant livelihoods for Lebanese citizens. This also blocks vast sums of money from reaching the Lebanese treasury, which needs every penny it can get, creating huge concerns about demographic change in Mount Lebanon and representing a constitutional violation due to the inequality between Lebanese citizens. Other Lebanese citizens from different governorates completed their transactions long ago at the old rates, which boosted the economic movement in their regions, while others find their transactions stalled and the economy in their areas paralyzed. Therefore, we call on the MPs from Mount Lebanon to take decisive action to reopen the real estate offices, and we hold the presidency of the government, the Ministry of Finance, and the general directorates of real estate offices responsible for resuming operations as soon as possible."
