Today, Monday, the Lebanese caretaker government held a session to discuss a number of social and economic issues, the first for the government since the presidency of the republic became vacant at the end of last October.
The government approved a number of financial requests in an extraordinary session chaired by Najib Mikati, following a quorum was completed and 17 ministers out of 24 attended.
Mikati said, “His government’s session today is exceptional, as it is related to securing the rights of cancer patients and dialysis,” adding, “Without this file, we would not have called for this session, and we will continue to support them.”
The Minister of Industry, George Boushkian, and the Minister of Social Affairs, Hector Al-Hajjar, also participated in the session, following they announced that they would not participate in the meeting along with other ministers affiliated with the Free Patriotic Movement and Representative Talal Arslan.
Yesterday, Sunday, 9 Lebanese ministers announced their refusal to invite the caretaker prime minister to a cabinet session.
And the nine ministers believed – in a statement – that the constitution does not allow the caretaker government to assume the powers of the President of the Republic, while it lacks constitutional powers and parliamentary confidence. It did not win the confidence of the current Parliament.
In today’s session, the government approved a request from the Banque du Liban to pay $35 million for the purchase of medicines and infant formula.
It also approved social assistance for the military and retirees, estimated at twice the salary, and approved the transfer of $ 26 million from the accounts of the Ministry of Communications to the interest of the “Ogero” (governmental) authority that manages the telecommunications sector in the country.
Since last June, political differences in the country have prevented the formation of a new government headed by Mikati, following parliament assigned him once more to this task, following the resignation of his government during the parliamentary elections last May.
Since last September, parliamentarians have failed to elect a new president to succeed Michel Aoun, whose term ended on October 31, despite holding 8 parliamentary sessions for this purpose.
This crisis in Lebanon is unprecedented, with no president for the country, a caretaker government with limited powers, and a parliament divided on several options.
