Following its meeting with Army Commander Joseph Aoun, the "Sovereign Front for Lebanon" held a press conference in which it stated, "Our visit today to the headquarters of the Lebanese Army and our meeting with Army Commander Joseph Aoun was not for the sake of political propaganda or in solidarity with a leader who does not need any advertising—he has proven with merit that he deserves his position. However, due to the bazaars that some resort to for their narrow interests, it was necessary first to meet General Joseph Aoun to express an imperative stance to neutralize the military institution from squabbles, as if there are those who enjoy destroying institutions after having ruined the republic with their lust for power. Their deception has been revealed, and with it the deception of the era that exploited and invested in the most abhorrent ways all the positions they reached to obtain gains for themselves and their families."
The "Sovereign Front" contended, "Those who launched accusations against the Army Commander, who initiated the slogan 'the army is the solution,' used the slogan to deceive the people, only to show later, through their behavior, that they are the ones who have harmed and continue to harm the military institution the most. These individuals sold illusions to the Lebanese, but after years, the curtain will drop on their true intentions. However, they know very well that targeting the commander is in fact a direct assault and clear harm to the institution."
It added, "From here, what is crucial in light of the delicate and exceptional circumstances that Lebanon is experiencing—war, collapse, and presidential vacancy—is to prevent any vacancy in the leadership of the army. The most effective, beneficial, and only solution is for the Army Commander to remain until a new president is elected, who the constitution grants the right to name or suggest the name of the officer to take command. However, it is clear that a populist political current continues on the same path of destruction. The issue is not merely about a Christian or even a Maronite specialty, despite the sect of the Army Commander and the sect of the president. Rather, it concerns the gravity of the current situation that requires handling it on the basis of Raison d'État, which necessitates maintaining the status quo within an institution whose hierarchy cannot be tampered with, nor its leadership changed while waiting for a new president to be elected."
It continued, "Let us seek the least harmful option in light of the presidential vacancy, and let us be wary of those who seek to undermine institutions, including the army, in light of complications that exceed Lebanon's borders. The leadership of the army is not merely an administration or an interest of the state, and the commander has specifications that differ entirely from those of all state employees, thus not every Maronite officer is fit to lead the army."
The "Sovereign Front" considered, "The last backbone of what remains of the features of a state is the army, but there are those who are intruding their ambition for power into the institution, and they are doing everything possible to rid themselves of Joseph Aoun in leadership, appearing in an opportunistic and impudent manner, exceeding all protocols and norms and the higher interest of the nation. They are trampling on the constitution and pacts in service of unprecedented political recklessness. Therefore, we will not allow them, nor should you, in order to prevent the republic from falling into a dire game."
It emphasized, "The issue is not about proposing names of officers to assume leadership—many of them are capable and commendable—but rather the danger today lies in creating a precedent that will create a significant gap in the Lebanese system, leading to a destructive approach first for the presidency and subsequently for the army leadership. Therefore, any decree to appoint a new commander is a diminishment of the presidential position. With this behavior led by a self-serving group, the fraudulent slogan of protecting the rights of Christians by undermining the most important privilege granted to the President of the Lebanese Republic is consistently being disproved."
In conclusion, the Sovereign Front called on "all currents and parties, as well as authorities, to gather around a common statement under the title: No appointment to a leadership position in the absence of the President of the Lebanese Republic."
