Lebanon: the last controversial political act of Michel Aoun before leaving the presidential palace

Lebanese President Michel Aoun speaks to supporters as he leaves the presidential palace, a day before the official end of his six-year term, in Baabda, Lebanon October 30, 2022. REUTERS - MOHAMED AZAKIR

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On the eve of the end of his six-year term, Lebanese head of state Michel Aoun left the presidential palace on Sunday, October 30 with great fanfare, surrounded by a crowd of thousands of supporters who came to pay their last respects. .

A few hours before his departure, the Lebanese leader made a final controversial political act.

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With our correspondent in Beirut

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By signing a decree accepting the resignation of the government, Michel Aoun wants to underline the illegitimate character of the cabinet of

, called to inherit the presidential prerogatives because of the vacancy in the supreme function.  

After four sessions in one month, Parliament failed to elect a successor to Michel Aoun.

The president's political camp believes that the current affairs dispatch government currently led by Nagib Mikati is not empowered to exercise presidential prerogatives and

before the end of the term.

On the other hand, his adversaries maintain that nothing prevents this government, considered to have resigned the day after the legislative elections in May, from inheriting the powers granted to the president by the Constitution.

This new quarrel risks plunging Lebanon into a situation of constitutional chaos, which comes on top of the unprecedented economic crisis that has hit Lebanon for three years. 

Michel Aoun also addressed a letter to the Parliament asking him to take the necessary measures after the signing of the decree of resignation from the cabinet.

Nagib Mikati's response was quick.

The outgoing Prime Minister also sent a missive to Parliament informing it that his government will continue to exercise its functions of dispatching current affairs, thus defying Michel Aoun's latest political act.

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• Lebanon

• Michael Aoun

• Najib Mikati