Aoun Approves Lebanese Govt Resignation, Demands Mikati's Removal as PM-designate

Lebanon's outgoing President Michel Aoun delivers a speech to mark the end of his mandate, outside the presidential palace in Baabda, east of the capital Beirut, on October 30, 2022. (AFP)
Lebanon's outgoing President Michel Aoun delivers a speech to mark the end of his mandate, outside the presidential palace in Baabda, east of the capital Beirut, on October 30, 2022. (AFP)
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Aoun Approves Lebanese Govt Resignation, Demands Mikati's Removal as PM-designate

Lebanon's outgoing President Michel Aoun delivers a speech to mark the end of his mandate, outside the presidential palace in Baabda, east of the capital Beirut, on October 30, 2022. (AFP)
Lebanon's outgoing President Michel Aoun delivers a speech to mark the end of his mandate, outside the presidential palace in Baabda, east of the capital Beirut, on October 30, 2022. (AFP)

Lebanese President Michel Aoun approved on Sunday the resignation of the caretaker government, fulfilling a warning he had made in recent days.

Aoun had stirred debate when he said that the caretaker government would be deemed resigned in wake of the May parliamentary elections.

Also on Sunday, Aoun demanded that Najib Mikati be removed as prime minister-designate. He called on parliament to convene to address the issue, marking a precedent in the country.

It was his final move in office before his term ends on Monday.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that he would call the legislature to convene in the coming two days to discuss Aoun’s demand.

He added that the election of a president will be a priority in the coming stage “because vacuum is rejected.”

He also revealed that he may call on political parties to hold dialogue to address pending issues.

Aoun’s message

In a letter to parliament, Aoun called for the removal of Mikati as PM-designate, for a replacement to be appointed and the formation of a government “to avoid vacuum”.

He accused Mikati of “refraining” from forming a government when Lebanon was on the verge of presidential vacuum, leaving the country without a president and government.

The country and its people cannot tolerate vacuum in both positions due to its impact on the nation and national pact, he added.

Aoun said: “Mikati had informed us during our meetings to form a government of his lack of enthusiasm to form it for various reasons.”

Among them was his saying that the election of a president was a priority and that it would be followed with the formation of a government, he went on to say.

Moreover, Aoun said that even days before his term ended, he insisted to Mikati that a government be formed, “but he didn’t care and our calls fell on deaf ears.”

“This cemented our belief that he is unwilling to form a government and wanted to remain at the head of the caretaker one, banking on presidential vacuum to take place,” charged Aoun.

He stressed that he adamantly rejects the possibility of a caretaker government assuming the role of the president, citing Article 17 of the constitution.

The government usually assumes the duties of the president in case of a vacuum in the country’s top post.

Edge of the abyss

Aoun called on lawmakers to “immediately and without delay” elect a president or form a new government in the final two days of his term to “avoidthe edge of the abyss”.

He accused Mikati of taking the deliberate political decision to refrain from forming a government.

“He is holding back from forming a government, banking on vacuum that is lethal to our pact, identity, constitution and national security,” he continued.

Mikati “must immediately step down from forming a government, so that a replacement can be named to form a cabinet,” demanded Aoun.

Govt goes on

Mikati, for his part, stressed that the government will continue to carry out “all of its constitutional duties, including its caretaker role, in line with the constitution and other regulations.”

Parliament has held four sessions since late September to elect a president but no candidate was able to get the two-thirds majority of the vote needed.

As in previous votes, parliamentary blocs will have to agree on a consensus candidate for the country’s top post as no alliance within the legislature controls majority seats.

Aoun himself was elected in 2016 after a more than two-year vacuum. Despite Hezbollah’s support then, Aoun was only elected after he received the backing of the bloc of his main rivals of the Lebanese Forces party as well as the bloc of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri.

While it's not the first time that Lebanon’s parliament has failed to appoint a successor by the end of the president’s term, this will be the first time that there will be both no president and a caretaker cabinet with limited powers.

Lebanon’s constitution allows the cabinet in regular circumstances to run the government, but is unclear whether that applies to a caretaker government.



Senior Israeli Official: Al-Sharaa Is Clearly Our Enemy

Children ride in a truck as they are evacuated due to fears of Israeli army incursions, following a drone attack that reportedly killed at least four people in the area, on the outskirts of the village of Koayiah, southwestern Syria, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)
Children ride in a truck as they are evacuated due to fears of Israeli army incursions, following a drone attack that reportedly killed at least four people in the area, on the outskirts of the village of Koayiah, southwestern Syria, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)
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Senior Israeli Official: Al-Sharaa Is Clearly Our Enemy

Children ride in a truck as they are evacuated due to fears of Israeli army incursions, following a drone attack that reportedly killed at least four people in the area, on the outskirts of the village of Koayiah, southwestern Syria, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)
Children ride in a truck as they are evacuated due to fears of Israeli army incursions, following a drone attack that reportedly killed at least four people in the area, on the outskirts of the village of Koayiah, southwestern Syria, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

A senior Israeli official warned on Tuesday that the growing understandings between Syria and Türkiye could restrict Israel's operational freedom in Syria.

Regarding Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, the Haaretz newspaper quoted the senior official as saying, “He is a classic Islamist and clearly our enemy – without a doubt.”

The official added, "This is a strategic asset we must preserve. Türkiye’s goal is to limit Israeli activity in Syria. We have no interest in confrontation, but we won't give up our positions either."

The senior official also addressed the Israeli Army operations in Syria, stating, “We have full backing from the US president.”

Regarding the possibility of Türkiye establishing a base in Syria, he said, “We don't believe Erdogan will be the one to provide the funding.”

Lately, Israeli officials have voiced concerns over reports that Türkiye is considering establishing a military base in Syria.

Israeli security sources said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is holding security consultations to discuss concerns over Turkish influence in Syria following the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime, and is trying to portray a confrontation with Ankara as inevitable.

The Hebrew website Walla, citing security sources, said Syria is holding contacts with Türkiye regarding the transfer of areas near Palmyra (central Syria) to the Turkish army in exchange for economic and military support for Damascus. This development sparked significant Israeli concerns, the sources said.
They noted that the new Syrian regime is working to restore military bases and enhance missile and defense capabilities in the south, near Israel.

Last Thursday, a Turkish Ministry of Defense source confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat reports about plans to establish a military base in Syria.

The source, who requested anonymity, said Türkiye is evaluating, in line with the new Syrian government's requests, the possibility of setting up a training base to enhance the capabilities of the Syrian military.

This statement was made in response to questions during a weekly press briefing by the Turkish Ministry of Defense, addressing recent reports regarding the potential establishment of a Turkish military base in Palmyra, Homs province, and an airbase at the Menagh Military Airport in Aleppo province.

“All our activities in Syria are coordinated in advance with the relevant parties, and all necessary security measures are taken,” the source added.

Earlier last month, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel will defend itself against any threat from Syria, while vowing the military will continue working to keep southern Syria demilitarized.

“We will ensure that southern Syria remains demilitarized and free of threats, and we will protect the local Druze population - anyone who does harm to them will face out response,” he wrote on his X page.