The National Bloc warned of a potential social explosion and called for adequate funding to assist the poorest families within the general budget.
The National News Agency reported that the National Bloc’s statement called for sufficient provisions to aid the poorest families in the general budget and not to rely on external aid, which varies from year to year, in order to prevent a social explosion that would affect the entire country due to deteriorating living conditions. The statement clarified that the budget allocated 150 billion Lebanese pounds for the poorest families, which is equivalent to 0.8% of the total budget, a figure deemed insufficient given the miserable conditions we have reached. It noted that a multiple of this amount has been allocated to funds and councils that contribute significantly to waste, as well as to inappropriate expenses such as clothing, car rentals, and the purchase of art pieces.
The National Bloc's statement added that corruption, waste, and even audacity in the budget have reached the point of stealing International Bank aid by converting the dollar amounts received into Lebanese pounds at a lower exchange rate. The statement referred to what it termed as "innovations" in the budget through the reduction of healthcare services and the re-evaluation of the retirement system for public sector employees, both of which lower living standards and pension guarantees for employees, emphasizing that instead of conducting a comprehensive review of the public sector to purge it of fictitious and nepotistic jobs that burden public finances, both the deserving and undeserving face repercussions.
Regarding the economic situation, the statement mentioned that the budget provides facilities for obtaining residency in Lebanon for those who purchase an apartment. Although this step aims to introduce hard currency into Lebanon, it contradicts all claims that have established the rent-seeking economic policy pursued by the authorities. It would have been more beneficial to offer these incentives to those investing in productive sectors such as industry, agriculture, and certain services that create job opportunities and reduce poverty and emigration.
