The relationship between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has been marked by a series of ups and downs, with differences on several key issues since they took office. Their most recent disagreement centered on the Raouche rock event, which led to an ‘indirect clash’ between the two officials.
Earlier, the appointment of a central bank governor had also sparked a dispute, which was resolved in March in favor of President Aoun’s nominee Karim Souaid.
While tensions over the handling of Hezbollah’s “Raouche celebration” continue to cast a shadow over their ties and have kept the cabinet from meeting this week, efforts are underway on several tracks to repair what ministerial sources close to the presidency describe as “a relationship of cooperation, partnership and responsibility.”
Those efforts were reflected in a meeting on Thursday between Aoun and Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Metri.
After the meeting Metri said: “We discussed the next cabinet session, at which we expect to hear from army command on the monthly report regarding the monopoly of arms. We also discussed the atmosphere of trust between the government and the presidency.”
Speaker Nabih Berri did not deny friction between the president and prime minister when asked after his meeting with Aoun on Monday, replying, “God willing, things will get better.”
Sources concede differences of view between the two men but say “matters are being resolved in a way that will not negatively affect the cooperation between them or the functioning of institutions.”
They told Asharq al-Awsat the dispute had been settled and that a cabinet meeting would be convened next Thursday at the presidential palace, to be chaired by Aoun.
“The president set out his position to the prime minister when he visited him on Tuesday, rejecting any use of the army against participants in the Raouche celebration, where the rock was lit up with images of the former and current Hezbollah secretaries-general, Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine,” the sources added.
Investigations into the “rock celebration” are continuing. Sources said probes were focusing on the association that obtained the permit for the event.
The National News Agency reported on Thursday that two people had been questioned under the supervision of the public prosecutor for specialized matters, Judge Jamal al-Hajjar; one was released on a pledge to stay, the other was remanded for questioning.
The latter is the owner of the laser device used to project the two images onto the rock.
The agency added that three more people had been summoned for questioning on Friday.
The episode also saw Aoun award the army commander, Major-General Rudolf Hikal, the National Order of the Cedar, grade of the grand sash, on Monday, in recognition of his service and leadership roles.
The move raised eyebrows amid the “clash” with the prime minister after Salam said he had “called the ministers of interior, justice and defence and asked them to take appropriate steps, including detaining those responsible and referring them to investigation so they face the penalties prescribed by law.”
Defense Minister Michel Menassa, an ally of Aoun, later issued a statement saying “the dignity of the Lebanese army regrets placing the burden of street events on the guardians of legitimacy” and stressing that “the army’s mission is to avert sedition,” responding to criticism directed at the military at the time.
Sources noted the medal Aoun conferred on Hikal had been signed by both the president and the prime minister on Sept. 19 before Aoun travelled to New York and was presented to Hikal on his return.
Support grows for Salam
Voices in support of Prime Minister Salam have grown louder. On Thursday, Salam received visitors who voiced solidarity with his stance and his insistence on upholding the law and protecting state institutions.
After meeting Salam, MP Ashraf Rifi said the Raouche event had been a “failed show of force aimed at confronting legitimacy and displaying a fake excess of power. We witnessed how a small state (Hezbollah) tried to impose a fait accompli on Beirut,” he said, adding that the militia had miscalculated and could no longer “retreat inward” after failing in its external ventures.
“I am confident Prime Minister Salam, a son of Beirut, emerged stronger by standing by the law. He will not back down from protecting institutions. All free Lebanese stand with him,” Rifi said.
Addressing the “defeated small state,” he added: “The time when a finger could be raised against the Lebanese is over. That finger has been broken for good, and our will as free Lebanese is firmer and stronger than any project of chaos or tutelage.”
Rifi urged state leaders and all security and military forces “to be of one hand, with no place for hesitation or compromise. You are the hope of the Lebanese in defending the state and restoring Lebanon to the realm of law and institutions.”
He warned: “Your responsibility is great and history will not forgive any slackness or hesitation,” and said “solidarity among the presidencies and institutions is needed now more than ever, and it stems from the duty to remove illegal arms and implement the constitution and international resolutions.”
