BEIRUT — The government palace in the heart of Beirut swarmed on July 9 with security officers affiliated with the Lebanese internal security and the Lebanese army, clashing with demonstrators loyal to Michel Aoun, leader of the Free Patriotic Movement.

The main reason behind the clash is the rejection by the Lebanese Christian leader’s supporters of the manner in which Prime Minister Tammam Salam has been managing governmental affairs in the absence of the president.

From Aoun’s perspective, in the absence of a president, there must be some consensus within the government to approve the government’s agenda, based on the constitutional text stipulating that the Cabinet shall act on behalf of the president in his absence. The prime minister and his political party believe that the government has the right to act on behalf of the president without consensus of all its components. This dilemma has existed since the end of the Lebanese president’s mandate in May 2014.

Although seemingly one-dimensional, the background of the July 9 incident seems to be more complex and intricate.