Aoun appoints his diplomatic adviser as Lebanon’s new foreign minister
Lebanese President Michel Aoun appointed his diplomatic adviser Charbel Wehbi as foreign minister after the sudden resignation of Nassif Hitti.
Mr Wehbi, 67, was a diplomat for 42 years before retiring in 2017 to advise Mr Aoun. He served as Lebanon’s ambassador to France, consul general in Los Angeles and was most recently the country’s representative to Venezuela, between 2007 and 2012.
The unusual move by the president to issue a decree directly appointing the new minister – and to place a close aide in the position – raises questions over the apparent independence of the government.
The decision was approved by the prime minister.
Formed in January by Prime Minister Hassan Diab, the administration is made up largely of technocrats without direct political affiliation.
But critics point out that all 30 members were nominated by many of the political factions in parliament and many have held roles in parties before.
While there is precedent for a decree to appoint a minister, it is a “serious challenge to parliamentary democracy and the Lebanese consociationalism arrangement that was formulated in the 1989 Taif agreement”, said Imad Salamey, associate professor of Middle East political affairs at the Lebanese American University.
“There is no constitutional text that provides the president or the prime minister with such a power.
“On the contrary, the constitution provides Parliament with the power of approving the government line-up and executing oversight over the work of individual ministers or the council of ministers.” He said that the move undermined the independence of the government.
“Of course, this approach in replacing the foreign minister lacks transparency and accountability, further politicising the executive appointments and undermining parliamentary oversight.”
Mr Hitti resigned on Monday and criticised the lack of progress in passing urgent reforms to begin fixing the country’s myriad crises, from the debilitating financial meltdown to piling rubbish, electricity cuts, increasing unemployment and rising poverty.
The new minister said he would seek good relations with all friendly countries and did not rule out official visits to Syria – a contentious issue for past governments split between opponents of Damascus and its allies.