In the context of government work, Minister of Youth and Sports George Kallas expected a Cabinet session to be held next Monday to discuss an agenda that has not yet been distributed to the ministers, regarding the vacancy in the army leadership. He stated, "If the quorum for the session is complete and if the legal study prepared by the Secretary-General of the Cabinet, Judge Mahmoud Makiyeh, is distributed to the ministers, the session will be held. But so far, the study has not been distributed to us." It is noteworthy that the Cabinet will not convene this week due to several ministers being outside Lebanon, including Minister of Agriculture Abbas Al-Haj Hassan linked to ESCWA meetings, Minister of Economy Amin Salam who may not have returned from Doha, Minister of Tourism Amin Nasar on a visit to Saudi Arabia, and possibly Minister of Information Ziad Makary traveling to France. Additionally, Deputy Prime Minister Saadeh Al-Shami was also out of Lebanon, and it is unknown whether he has returned.
Regarding military vacancies, parliamentary sources tracking communications about filling the military positions told "Al-Jumhouria" that the proposals under discussion have not yet matured due to disagreements over their details and resolutions. The proposal to appoint an army commander in the Cabinet requires a suggestion from the Minister of Defense, who does not attend the sessions. If there is an agreement on his attendance, it must align with the demands of the "Free Patriotic Movement" for the signature of all 24 ministers on the appointment decree, which is rejected by Presidents Nabih Berri and Najib Mikati.
Moreover, a parliamentary law proposal to delay the retirement of the army commander is met with opposition from the Free Patriotic Movement, as there are various proposals, including one that requests delaying the retirement of the Director General of Internal Security Forces, Major General Imad Othman, which has raised issues among some blocs since Othman is due to retire in six months, making the discussion premature. Meanwhile, the Sunni parliamentary blocs that proposed this see "the country's situation as concerning and the region on the brink of war, with no one able to predict the outcome, so it is preferable to delay Othman's retirement to keep the institution managed by the original leader, not an interim."
However, sources from the "National Accord" bloc told "Al-Jumhouria" that "it is too early to discuss the case of General Othman, but they are willing to discuss it if matters become complicated and will act in the interest of the sect." Additionally, Berri conditions the convening of a legislative parliamentary session to extend military and security leaders on the approval of the blocs that presented proposals, especially the "Lebanese Forces Bloc," to discuss other items on the agenda. However, the Lebanese Forces did not clarify their position regarding Berri's request and have not yet responded, as they do not agree to hold broad legislative sessions in light of the presidential vacuum.
During its regular meeting chaired by MP Gibran Bassil yesterday, the "Strong Lebanon" bloc addressed the military entitlement. It stated in a statement after the meeting that "a group of trumpeters and misled individuals continue to create a crisis that does not exist due to the approaching retirement age of the army commander." They declared that "there is no justification for exaggeration or any reason to violate laws, as there is no vacancy in the position of army commander by virtue of what is known as the command of the highest rank, which is available and automatic."
