Slim Declines Extension Proposal During Meeting with Al-Rahi Regarding Military Leadership Issue

In the midst of an impending crisis regarding the leadership of the army chief, Maurice Slim, the acting Defense Minister, held a meeting with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Friday. They discussed necessary measures to prevent a leadership vacuum following the expected retirement of General Joseph Aoun, the current army chief, in January.

Slim, who aligns with the Free Patriotic Movement, clarified post-meeting that the decision to extend Aoun’s tenure is not within his power. He emphasized that such an extension would require discussion and approval in parliament, expressing his support for the appointment of a new army chief instead.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri had initially hoped for the extension to be agreed upon in the Cabinet. However, he committed to bringing the matter to parliament if the Cabinet does not address it by the end of November.

Slim reassured al-Rahi that appointing a new army chief would not overstep the authority of the next president, who could reverse the decision once in office.

Al-Rahi, favoring the extension of Aoun’s term, expressed his preference for the selection of a new army chief to coincide with the election of a new president.

The potential vacancy in the army chief’s position threatens to deepen Lebanon’s institutional crisis. The country, already facing significant challenges, is without a president, operates with a limited caretaker government, lacks a head for its General Security Directorate since March, and is missing a central bank governor. This situation further strains Lebanon’s fragile and stalled administrative structures.