Lebanon

The Fountain is Turned Off... What Will Happen at the Palace in the Absence of the President?

The Fountain is Turned Off... What Will Happen at the Palace in the Absence of the President?

President Michel Aoun left the Baabda Palace after six years filled with responsibilities, challenges, activities, and meetings that the presidential palace hosted in both good times and bad, with the latter being more prevalent. During Aoun's term, the spotlight was on the palace, its president, and its visitors. With Aoun's departure from the residence where he spent several years surrounded by family members, palace staff, and republican guard forces, the water fountain was turned off, and activity at the presidential headquarters diminished. What will happen to the palace after the president's departure?

MTV website interviewed Dr. Antoine Chaqir, General Director of the Presidency, who has witnessed two vacancies in the presidential palace. He clarified that "turning off the fountain is not part of the protocol or a law that mandates it, but it is more of a custom, and it is known that when the President is in his office, the fountain begins to operate." He noted that "the protocol, on the other hand, stipulates that the flag is removed at the end of the president's term and in the absence of a new president."

Chaqir confirmed that "the General Directorate of the Presidential Palace is an official institution that operates independently, and work continues even in the absence of the president." He reminded that "between the presidencies of Michel Sleiman and Michel Aoun, and during the vacancy that occurred at that time, we utilized the time to undertake several reform and maintenance projects in various sections of the palace, as well as organizing training courses for employees and developing the information system, which reflected greater efficiency and productivity when a new president was elected." He added, "It is true that the budget of the presidency has remained unchanged, but in light of the current economic crisis and the rising dollar exchange rate, we may undertake similar projects but will only choose what is necessary and essential. What is certain is that we will continue to work on the archives of former presidents and modernize the information systems in the palace departments."

Regarding the fate of the palace staff, Chaqir said, "Two-thirds of the republican guards have administrative roles in the General Directorate of the Palace in addition to other staff, and the protection of the premises will remain tight despite the president's departure."

The vacancy appears as a twilight over the nation and the presidential palace, signifying only the end of an era while awaiting a new one that will bring life, hope, and light just like the dawn's break... But the question remains, how long will this twilight last?

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