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The election session on June 14th further intensified the division between the Amal-Hezbollah tandem and the opposition. Both parties firmly believe in the potential victory of their respective candidates, Sleiman Frangieh and Jihad Azour. Confronted with what appears to be an orchestrated stalemate, an increasing number of MPs are now unreservedly discussing the possibility of promoting a third consensus figure. One name that consistently resurfaces is that of Army Commander Joseph Aoun. In fact, his name has reverberated within the Parliament for the first time during the lastest 12th electoral session.
The question of amending the Constitution to open the way for Aoun’s endorsement pops up with persistent intensity. However, the necessity of this amendment is now a matter of fierce debate.
What Does the Law Stipulate?
In ordinary times, for an active Army Commander to be eligible for the presidency, an amendment to Article 49 of the Constitution must be voted upon. This was the case for Emile Lahoud in 1998.
However, in 2008, the pressing security and political circumstances resulted in the appointment of former Army commander Michel Sleiman to the presidency without amending the Constitution. Thus, a precedent exists in this regard.
The pertinent question at hand is whether the current political and economic situation justifies a repetition of the presidential scenario of 2008. Upon his meeting with Joseph Aoun, Jean-Yves Le Drian, the special envoy of the French President, will undoubtedly ponder this question.
