The Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah and its Christian political allies have boycotted a cabinet meeting yesterday, highlighting the growing political tension that has paralysed the country's national unity government led by Prime Minister Tammam Salam.
The cabinet meeting was not attended by the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), led by Christian politician Michel Aoun, in protest to what the movement described on its website to be Salam’s "abuse of his powers", which should be reserved for the president. A Hezbollah minister stated that the group boycotted the meeting in solidarity with its allies.
The position of president, which must be occupied by a Christian according to Lebanon’s sectarian distribution of political power, has been empty since last year when Michel Suleiman’s term ended. Aoun is at the top of the list of candidates competing for the position, but he cannot occupy the role without the consensus of the various parties. He currently does not have their consensus and there is no indication of reaching a middle ground.
Disputes within Salam’s government, which was formed last year, have escalated over the past few weeks. Key issues include the decision to extend Brigadier-General Jean Kahwaji’s term as chief of the Lebanese Armed Forces. However, Aoun sought to appoint his son-in-law, General Chamel Roukoz, as chief of the Lebanese Armed Forces.
