Caretaker Minister of Defense Maurice Slim slammed the appointment of a new Army chief of staff by the Council of Ministers on Thursday as a blunt violation of the Constitution in the absence of a president.
"This is a constitutional and legal violation committed by the Prime Minister, the latest in a series of other violations since the beginning of the presidential vacancy," Slim stated.
"In light of this violation, measures will be taken to protect the military institution from encroachment at a time when it is supposed to remain far from favoritism, affiliations and settling political scores," Slim added.
He refused to suggest any names for military appointments, stating that he would not make any appointments to vacant positions in the absence of a president.
Slim’s comments come after the Cabinet announced the appointment of General Hassan Audi as the Chief of Staff of the Army at the end of their Council of Ministers’ meeting on Thursday, following Audi's promotion from the rank of colonel to general.
After the December 15 extension of the mandate of Army Commander General Joseph Aoun, which Slim opposed, the position of chief of staff, reserved for the Druze confession, had remained vacant. So far, the seats of two members of the military council, Shiite and Orthodox, are still vacant.
"This is a constitutional and legal violation committed by the Prime Minister, the latest in a series of other violations since the beginning of the presidential vacancy," Slim stated.
"In light of this violation, measures will be taken to protect the military institution from encroachment at a time when it is supposed to remain far from favoritism, affiliations and settling political scores," Slim added.
He refused to suggest any names for military appointments, stating that he would not make any appointments to vacant positions in the absence of a president.
Slim’s comments come after the Cabinet announced the appointment of General Hassan Audi as the Chief of Staff of the Army at the end of their Council of Ministers’ meeting on Thursday, following Audi's promotion from the rank of colonel to general.
After the December 15 extension of the mandate of Army Commander General Joseph Aoun, which Slim opposed, the position of chief of staff, reserved for the Druze confession, had remained vacant. So far, the seats of two members of the military council, Shiite and Orthodox, are still vacant.
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