The Minister of Economy and Trade in the caretaker government, Amin Salam, stated that he has numbers, facts, and documents, adding, "Apart from that, I do not have anything." In a press conference, he affirmed that "we do not support subsidizing goods, but Lebanon is not the only country that subsidizes goods." He urged against "throwing accusations without facts," emphasizing the need for a state and administrations to operate properly.
He invited those who point fingers to discuss issues of smuggling at the borders, noting that long lines at bakeries consist of many Syrians. He indicated, "Today, we cannot face the thief and the smuggler alone, and reports state that smuggling has reached 40%." He highlighted the necessity of rationalizing the lifting of subsidies, saying, "Those whose houses are made of straw and whose situation is fragile should not hurl fiery projectiles at others."
He mentioned that there is a surplus of 10,000 tons of flour that has been stolen, and stated, "We came to clean up what you have done in previous administrations," adding that there are parties that have infiltrated ministries with gangs. He confirmed that there are currently 20,000 tons of flour in the mills and declared, "The price of bread is a red line for me, and no one decides when and how subsidies will be lifted... Anyone selling bread for 20,000 or 30,000 lira is a 'thief and knows he is a thief.'"
