Yesterday, the Council of Ministers began holding sessions to study and discuss the general budget for the year 2022 in the government headquarters, headed by Prime Minister Najib Mikati, in the presence of ministers, among whom Justice Minister Henry Khoury was absent due to travel.
Following the end of the morning session, Acting Minister of Information Judge Abbas Al-Halabi said: “Just as it was agreed upon in the cabinet session that was held in Baabda Palace, the Council of Ministers resumed its meetings today headed by the Prime Minister and in the presence of all ministers to discuss the draft budget law, and began studying this draft article by article. . The Council stopped before several articles related to economic incentives and their development, to enable the Lebanese economy to rise once more. The research was also suspended in some other articles for further discussion. It will resume on Wednesday morning and the following day, that is, Thursday.”
He added, “The cabinet sessions will remain open until this bill is approved. Before the break, we reached Article 40 of the draft budget.”
Regarding the customs dollar, Al-Halabi said: “It is too early to talk regarding details, because we will finish studying this project, and upon its completion we will come up with a written statement regarding it. We discuss all articles, article by article, in an atmosphere of cooperation and scientific and objective discussion that enriches these articles in a way that preserves public finances and leads to stimulating the economy.”
Regarding the new taxes, he replied: “This is an integrated project, and as long as it is, we must wait when we finish discussing it to talk regarding the results.”
In response to a question regarding the exceptional powers granted to the Minister of Finance, he said: “This issue was not raised, and we are still at the beginning of the discussion and we have reached Article 39, which has been completed, and the research was suspended with a number of articles for further discussion.”
The Council of Ministers reconvened in a second session in the followingnoon.
The session will resume today, nine in the morning in the Saraya.
