The Council of Ministers is holding a meeting today to discuss the promotion of officers. However, the ongoing ministerial clash between Minister of Tourism Walid Nassar and Minister of Economy Amin Salam has overshadowed this session. This dispute began last week when an agenda item regarding a modification of the decision related to Lebanon's participation in Expo Doha was included, and the ministry responsible for representing Lebanon was debated. In this context, the Presidency of the Council of Ministers has added the item related to Lebanon's participation in "Expo Doha," alongside another item concerning a treasury advance for the Ogero Authority.
The "New" channel reported that Minister Walid Nassar will file a defamation complaint against Minister of Economy Amin Salam if the latter does not apologize during the session. Salam responded in an interview with MTV that he is going to the Cabinet to thank Nassar for "restoring my authority regarding Expo Qatar," emphasizing that he will not apologize to Nassar, and if Nassar's request for an apology was intended as a challenge, "I do not allow anyone to challenge me." He affirmed that he did not personally address Nassar, but rather the opposite occurred based on "false news" he received indicating that Salam had spoken about his brother.
Additionally, the main item on the agenda, the promotion of officers on behalf of the President, is a problem in itself with Minister of Defense Maurice Sleem. This includes promotions from the rank of Colonel to Brigadier General, which have been pending for over three years, encompassing the classes of 1994, 1995, and 1996. This matter was the focus of meetings in Ain al-Tineh last week with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi.
If this item is approved, it could provide the current government the opportunity to make security and military appointments in the military council to fill vacancies. This matter presents another conflict with the political forces opposing government sessions and the approval of appointments during the presidential vacancy. It is worth noting that the agenda consists of more than thirty items, which has raised the ire of the "opposition forces," arguing that the government is not addressing what is "necessary," but rather discussing routine matters as if the country is operating normally, and that it is a fully empowered government.
