The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has completed the preparation of a draft for the redeployment of third-grade diplomats.

The project entails summoning around 30 diplomats serving in various missions to the central administration in Beirut. In exchange, an equal number of diplomats working at the ministry will be sent abroad to replace them.

The purpose of this measure is to alleviate the financial burden on the staff members working in Beirut, whose salaries currently do not exceed $70 but will automatically increase to over $7,000 depending on the mission they join.

The decision was signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdallah Bou Habib, and the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Hani Chemaitelly. It also received exceptional approval from Prime Minister Najib Mikati before being forwarded to the Civil Service Council for review, after which the decision became effective.

The decision regarding the redeployments has sparked controversy, with objections raised by the Free Patriotic Movement and the Amal Movement.

The former criticizes Bou Habib for not coordinating with them before proceeding with the decision, considering that he is associated with their political share in the government. At its core, the objection is against the project itself, as the FPM does not want any appointments to be made in the absence of a president, considering it a violation of powers.

On the other hand, the Amal Movement objects to the exclusion of Shiite diplomats from the exchange process. In other words, they want to retain Shiite diplomats affiliated with their movement abroad. 

Apart from political calculations, which are primarily based on personal interests, the diplomats affected by the decision, currently serving abroad (43 diplomats from the 2016 batch), object from a practical standpoint as they fear a reduction in their benefits and salaries upon their return to the central administration.

Some of them have discussed the possibility of legal and administrative action, and one of their options is to appeal to the State Council.

These diplomats rely on the internal regulations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which stipulate a seven-year term for third-grade diplomats abroad, of which only four years have passed in their case.

On the other hand, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs defends its decision, asserting that it is based on legal provisions within the internal regulations, particularly as the redeployment of third-grade diplomats does not require the approval of the Cabinet but falls under the administrative decisions of the minister alone.