Lebanese President Michel Aoun has 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, signed off by the prime minister, 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.
Formed in January by Prime Minister Hassan Diab, the current administration is made up largely of technocrats without direct political affiliation. However, critics point out that all 20 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.
The Taif Accord laid the foundation to end Lebanon’s 15-year civil war and re-balanced the share of power between the numerous Lebanese sects. It also strengthened the role of the prime minister and of parliament at the expense of the president.
“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 government line up and executing oversight over the work of individual ministers or the council of ministers,” Mr Salamey said.
He added that the move undermines the independence of the government.
“Of course, this approach in replacing the FM lacks transparency and accountability, further politicising the executive appointments and undermining parliamentary oversight,” he said.
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 worst financial meltdown in its history to piling rubbish, mounting power cuts, spiking unemployment and rising poverty.
The new minister has said he will 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.
"We should be open to visit any Arab country," Mr Wehbi said on the issue. Past Lebanese governments have pledged a policy of non-interference in regional affairs and ministers have not visited Damascus in an official capacity since the start of the war in 2011.
On the issue of US sanctions on Hezbollah members and finances of the group, he said "These issues can be discussed with the concerned parties."
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Results:
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 (PA) | Group 1 US$75,000 (Dirt) | 2,200 metres
Winner: Goshawke, Fernando Jara (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer)
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas (TB) | Listed $250,000 (D) | 1,600m
Winner: Silva, Oisin Murphy, Pia Brendt
7.40pm: Meydan Classic Trial (TB) | Conditions $100,000 (Turf) | 1,400m
Winner: Golden Jaguar, Connor Beasley, Ahmad bin Harmash
8.15pm: Al Shindagha Sprint (TB) | Group 3 $200,000 (D) | 1,200m
Winner: Drafted, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (D) | 1,600m
Winner: Capezzano, Mickael Barzalona, Sandeep Jadhav
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (T) | 2,000m
Winner: Oasis Charm, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
10pm: Handicap (TB) | $135,000 (T) | 1,600m
Winner: Escalator, Christopher Hayes, Charlie Fellowes
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
The specs: Audi e-tron
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Transmission: Single-speed auto
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Guns N’ Roses’s last gig before Abu Dhabi was in Hong Kong on November 21. We were there – and here’s what they played, and in what order. You were warned.
- It’s So Easy
- Mr Brownstone
- Chinese Democracy
- Welcome to the Jungle
- Double Talkin’ Jive
- Better
- Estranged
- Live and Let Die (Wings cover)
- Slither (Velvet Revolver cover)
- Rocket Queen
- You Could Be Mine
- Shadow of Your Love
- Attitude (Misfits cover)
- Civil War
- Coma
- Love Theme from The Godfather (movie cover)
- Sweet Child O’ Mine
- Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb cover)
- Wish You Were Here (instrumental Pink Floyd cover)
- November Rain
- Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden cover)
- Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan cover)
- Nightrain
Encore:
- Patience
- Don’t Cry
- The Seeker (The Who cover)
- Paradise City
Schedule:
Friday, January 12: Six fourball matches
Saturday, January 13: Six foursome (alternate shot) matches
Sunday, January 14: 12 singles
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
6 UNDERGROUND
Director: Michael Bay
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Adria Arjona, Dave Franco
2.5 / 5 stars
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
