❊ Maybe Minister Marwan Charbel Is Not a Closet Aounist After All

As you might well recall, one of the biggest problems that faced the formation of a Miqati government was the position of Minister of Interior.

The ministry was at the center of dispute between M.P. Aoun, who was on a crusade to “clean up” the ISF from Hariri loyalists, and Mr. Miqati and President Sleiman, who for various reasons didn’t want major disruption in the ministry that will supervise the next general elections.

When Mr. Charbel was chosen and sold as a moderate who had a good relation with both the President and Mr. Aoun, many whispered that the man was actually a Aounist in disguise, and that promoting him as a moderate was just a face saving device for the president.

Fast forward to today, and it seems Mr. Charbel’s actions and words are not exactly designed to please Mr. Aoun. A few days ago, he sang the praises of the Information Branch, a department of the ISF that the Aounist media constantly demonized and that was famously called a “militia” by Mr. Aoun.

Another bête noire for the FPM was the head of the ISF General Ashraf Rifi, a staunch Hariri loyalist whose head many suspected will be first to roll with the new cabinet. And yet, it didn’t. In fact, Minster Charbel told Future News (of all TV Stations!) yesterday that General Rifi should keep his job.

Of course, I’m aware that firing General Rifi would be political suicide for PM Miqati. Conspiracy junks will also claim that Minister Charbel is playing us into believing he’s neutral, but when push comes to shove and the elections get closer, he will show his true colors.

Things might well change. But for now, my anxiety with Ziad Baroud’s successor has diminished considerably.