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Retiring officials trigger security concerns in Lebanon

In light of the presidential vacuum, Lebanese political forces have established a new mechanism for making decisions in Cabinet, a formula that will be tested when a number of key security officials retire in 2015.
Parliament members give the newly-formed cabinet a vote of confidence in Beirut March 20, 2014. Lebanon's parliament gave a newly-formed cabinet a vote of confidence on Thursday, ending almost a year of political deadlock during which the country has been pulled further into the civil war in neighbouring Syria. REUTERS/Sharif Karim (LEBANON - Tags: POLITICS)     BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE - RTR3JS87
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BEIRUT — The presidential vacuum, ongoing since May 25, 2014, is heavily affecting the decision-making mechanism of the Cabinet, to which the powers of the head of state are transferred to “in case of vacancy in the presidency for any reason,” in accordance with Article 62 of the Lebanese Constitution. Since, the Cabinet’s decisions have no longer been made by consensus. Regular issues such as draft laws no longer require a simple majority, and crucial issues — such as the amendment of the constitution, the decision to declare war and appointments to leading state and public service positions — no longer require the approval of a two-thirds majority, as stipulated in Article 65 of the constitution.

The various political forces — most notably the Christian parties — agreed on a mechanism requiring the signature of all 24 ministers on any decree to be issued, in a move that was interpreted as a division of the presidential powers.

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