According to reports from opposition members, last Friday’s parliamentary vote to extend the term of office of Army Commander-in-Chief General Joseph Aoun by one year was a test run for the presidential election.
The vote in favor of extending the army chief’s term of office exceeded 70 votes, given that the number of MPs present at the session was more than 70. The MPs therefore voted in favor of extending Joseph Aoun’s term of office, despite the departure of the Hezbollah and four Sunni representatives, the absence of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) MPs and the abstention of MPs Elias Bou Saab, Jamil al-Sayyed and Mortada al-Samad.
Furthermore, Speaker Nabih Berri announced the law’s ratification before the end of the vote, implying that almost everyone present had taken part in the vote. This shows that the opposition can win a majority in Parliament at the next electoral session if it rallies around a candidate capable of unifying its ranks.
