Abbas Ibrahim, the powerful head of general
security in Lebanon, is poised to leave office this week since neither the
government nor the parliament has debated a policy that would let him continue
serving beyond reaching the mandatory retirement age.
Ibrahim is seen as a crucial regional contact
with strong relations with the Hezbollah organisation, which is supported by
Iran, as well as with Western nations.
He will turn 64 on Thursday, which in Lebanon
is the standard retirement age. If a vacancy in their position is thought to
pose a risk of instability, Lebanese authorities have in the past granted
special exemptions for prominent officials to continue serving after 64.
But, at its meeting on Monday, Lebanon's
caretaker cabinet did not bring up an extension. After the meeting, Ziad
Makary, the minister of information, told reporters that the interior minister
should make the decision because the cabinet "can do nothing."
A Reuters request for comment was not answered
by interim Interior Minister Bassam Al-Mawlawi, whose department oversees
General Security and certain other security units.
Najib Mikati, the interim premier of Lebanon,
stated in an interview last week that as the matter included law modifications,
parliament should handle it. Before Ibrahim is supposed to retire, neither the
House of Representatives nor the Parliament will meet.
According to a source close to Hezbollah, the
organisation attempted to "put its whole weight" behind a
parliamentary vote to extend Ibrahim's tenure but was unsuccessful in doing so.
Whenever Ibrahim's term is up, Mawlawi is
anticipated to appoint an interim leader. With the presidency empty and the
government serving in a caretaker role since the legislative elections of last
year, Lebanon is already experiencing an unparalleled constitutional crisis.
Ibrahim is regarded as being close to
Hezbollah and the local Syrian government, but he also frequently visits
Washington and Paris to meet with influential people there.
He has been regarded as a crucial mediator as
a result, taking part in instances ranging from the disappearance of American
reporter Austin Tice to the US-mediated negotiations between Lebanon and Israel
over their maritime border, which was established last year.
Tarek Bitar, the Lebanese judge looking into
the disastrous August 2020 Beirut port explosion, charged him earlier this
year, yet he kept his job. At the time, Ibrahim opted not to respond to the
accusations.