The head of the "Free Patriotic Movement," Lebanese MP Gebran Bassil, does not tire from attempts to encircle the Maronite figures seriously nominated for the presidency, foremost among them Army Commander General Joseph Aoun. His attack on Aoun yesterday (Sunday) is a clear maneuver against the communications and meetings aimed at finding common ground among certain parliamentary blocs and parties, including the recent meeting that brought together Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt with a delegation from Hezbollah to discuss the presidential file and propose new names for consensus, with General Aoun at the forefront, who faces strong rejection from Bassil and his team.
During a press conference, Bassil launched a fierce attack on the Army Commander, accusing him of "violating defense laws and public accountability, usurping the powers of the Minister of Defense (Maurice Sleem), and acting arbitrarily with millions in a private funds account and in the army's properties."
Bassil's campaign against the Army Commander came shortly after a media interview where Defense Minister Maurice Sleem criticized General Joseph Aoun and confirmed he was "about to propose his dismissal to the Cabinet," although the Defense Minister later retracted this statement three days later following a visit to Maronite Patriarch Bechara Al-Rahi in Bkerke.
Former MP and head of the "Saydet Al-Jabal Meeting" Fares Sayyed considered this attack as "part of the cockfight among the Maronites for the presidency." He emphasized in a statement to Asharq Al-Awsat that "Bassil's attack is unjustified against a person appointed by former President Michel Aoun to lead the military institution, who was part of his team," attributing the issue to "Bassil's rivalry with General Joseph Aoun over the presidency." Sayyed mocked what he termed Bassil's "claims of concern for the army and for laws and transparency, as his practices in power have disqualified him from promoting slogans about safeguarding institutions."
Sayyed pointed out that Bassil "is continuing today the systematic attack initiated by former President Michel Aoun against three Maronite figures: Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh, Army Commander Joseph Aoun, and the head of the Supreme Judicial Council Judge Suhail Abboud." He noted that this aimed to shift responsibility for the financial and economic collapse to the Central Bank Governor, the judicial collapse to the head of the judiciary, and the eventual (God forbid) security collapse to the Army Commander.
Sayyed, known for his strong opposition to the presidency of former President Michel Aoun, stated that "Bassil's remarks have no impact on the sentiments of Christians and do not diminish the value of the Army Commander, as the leadership of the army could be more important to Christians than the presidency. If a figure like Bassil attacks it, it does not mean it impacted Christians or altered their convictions."
Bassil's escalatory stance comes on the eve of an anticipated visit by the "Democratic Gathering" bloc led by MP Taymour Walid Jumblatt to the patriarchal headquarters in Bkerke to meet with Patriarch Al-Rahi and brief him on the atmosphere of the meeting between the leaderships of "Progressive Socialist Party" and "Hezbollah." Retired Brigadier General Khaled Hamada, an expert in political and security affairs, stated that Bassil "is opening fire on all candidates for the presidency, including the Army Commander."
He confirmed in a statement to Asharq Al-Awsat that the army is "a self-standing entity and is respected and supported by all Lebanese, regardless of who leads this institution." Hamada noted that the head of the Free Patriotic Movement "put in the background of his conference the word 'alone,' indicating that he is left alone in the presidential battle, and is attempting to seek sympathy from (Lebanese Forces leader Samir) Geagea, under the pretext of warning against isolating Christians in the presidential election, but that will not change the convictions of Geagea and the majority of the Christian parties that Bassil has fought for many years."
For his part, Walid Ashkar, a member of the political council of the "Free Patriotic Movement," rejected linking Bassil's comments about the Army Commander to the presidential battle, pointing out that the head of the movement "is not a candidate for the presidency yet, evidenced by his proposal of a list of names for consensus on any of them, unless developments necessitate him running," as he clarified in his press conference.
Ashkar confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that "there is a problem with the Army Commander's management regarding the monopoly on financial management and appointments within the military institution that exceed his authority and constitute an encroachment on the powers of the Minister of Defense," indicating that "the management of financial and administrative matters belongs to the Minister of Defense, not the Army Commander, and this is what we always caution about to maintain the army's integrity and role."
