Following the extension of army commander General Joseph Aoun’s mandate for a year, a council of ministers’ meeting, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, December 19, may look into the appointment of an army chief of staff and members of the military council.

According to a political source “the matter is under consideration,” though it does not figure on the meeting’s agenda.

“The issue could be raised from outside the agenda. So, let’s hope for the better,” the source told This is Beirut.

The position of Chief of Staff, which is allocated to the Druze community, has been vacant since General Amin el-Orm retired on December 24, 2022.

His obvious successor, who enjoys the backing of the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP), would be Hassane Audi, the highest-ranking Druze officer.

According to a source close to the PSP, “there is still no consensus” in order to proceed with the appointments, and the matter “is not finalized yet.”

In addition to the chief of staff, two seats on the six-member military Council, namely that of Inspector General and Director General of the Administration, should be filled.

“The PSP clearly supports the appointment of a chief of staff and a military council. They consider the matter a priority and a natural sequel, or follow up, on the extension of the army commander’s mandate,” the source said.

The Military Council, which is headed by the army commander, a Maronite, includes the chief of staff, a Druze, the Inspector General, a Greek Orthodox, the Director General of the Administration, a Shiite, the Secretary of the Higher Defense Council, a Sunni, and a full-time member, a Christian Catholic.

The Council members lead the different institutions affiliated with the Ministry of Defense. Decisions are taken by majority vote and, in case the votes are equal, the army commander’s vote is decisive. Among the many tasks of the council is the appointment of regional commanders and the commanding officers of brigades and army units, as well as officers’ promotions and dismissals.

General Joseph Aoun’s retirement, which was due on January 10, was delayed by one year at a plenary parliamentary session on December 15, despite the boycott by MPs of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM).

FPM ministers have been boycotting the cabinet meetings as well, under the argument that they are unconstitutional in the absence of a president of the republic.