On Wednesday, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati pointed out during the Cabinet meeting at the Grand Serail that "the holding of our session today coincides with a campaign being waged against the government by a political team in the country, which is boycotting sessions without providing a logical explanation for its stance." Mikati questioned, "In light of this situation, is it required of the government to halt the work in institutions and completely disrupt people's interests? Is the government responsible for the presidential vacancy, or is it the esteemed deputies who bear that responsibility? He emphasized that "the convening of the Council of Ministers and the management of government work to keep the institutional cycle going is neither provocation nor a violation of the charter, partnership, and the constitution, as some claim. Rather, the true violation of the constitution and partnership lies in adopting a method of deliberate obstruction. It is very easy to decide to retreat, but is this choice in the interest of the country?"
He continued, "The real blow to partnership is represented by refraining from fulfilling the national and constitutional duty to elect a new president of the republic, especially by the team that bemoans the vacancy of the presidential position while participating in obstructing the electoral process. This same team incites spiritual and political authorities against the government. Ironically, the team that calls for not holding the Cabinet meeting is the same that demands the inclusion of items on meeting agendas."
He stated, "Those who raise the question of whether such sessions and decisions and decrees are permissible in the absence of the president should first answer the question of why they participate in obstructing the election of the president, and what benefit is gained from disrupting state, government, and institutional work? Does this disruption serve the election of the president and the Lebanese partner represented by the president?"
Regarding Syrian Displaced Persons
The Prime Minister mentioned that he had met today with the UN humanitarian coordinator in Lebanon, Imran Yerza, and they agreed to devise a constructive formula to advance this issue in accordance with the aspirations of the Lebanese state and the public interest. He added, "I am in the process of calling for a Cabinet session dedicated to the file of Syrian displaced persons, where all points will be discussed in preparation for the speech I will give at the European Union conference in Brussels on the 15th of next month." He indicated that he had tasked Minister of Displaced Persons Issam Sharaf al-Din with preparing for the ministerial session and for the meeting of the ministerial committee specialized in the displaced persons file, which will take place before the special governmental session.
Concerning the Governorship of the Central Bank
On the file of the governorship of the Central Bank of Lebanon, Mikati said, "We had discussed the matter extensively in the consultative meeting we held on Monday, and we agreed that the issue is in the hands of the judiciary and in accordance with the provisions of Lebanese law. I stressed that it should not appear as if there is a party wanting revenge and another seeking to ensure protection." He continued, "It is the easiest thing to say today to dismiss the governor, but based on respect for institutions and the views of the respected ministers present, and after the Deputy Prime Minister submitted a written memorandum on this issue, I will again raise the topic for discussion now to make the appropriate decision."
Decisions of the Meeting
After the meeting, Minister of Information Ziad Makari announced the decisions made, stating that "on the issue of the governorship of the Central Bank of Lebanon, Minister of Finance Youssef Khalil was tasked with preparing an accurate report detailing the repercussions of ongoing prosecutions abroad against the governor of the Central Bank on his performance and the impact of that on the performance of the Bank of Lebanon. Concurrently, Minister of Justice was tasked with providing the appropriate legal opinion on how to address this issue from a legal perspective."
Regarding salaries and wages, Makari confirmed that "the Cabinet approved the payment of the full additional compensations approved by the Cabinet, according to Decree 11227 dated 18-4-2023, for the month of May in full, with this payment considered as an advance to be deducted from subsequent compensations if proven unjustified according to the terms laid out in the aforementioned decree. Ministries are required to send the number of attendance days for the month of May to the Treasury Department at the Ministry of Finance, which will take the necessary procedures based on what has been presented."
He added, "The Cabinet acknowledged from the Minister of Finance that there are insufficient financial appropriations available to pay salaries, wages, and social assistance for all employees in the public sector and military institutions starting from June if the Parliament does not approve the laws to open additional appropriations related to salaries, wages, social assistance, and additional compensations, as well as transport allowances based on 450,000 Lebanese pounds. Thus, we urge the Parliament to convene as soon as possible to approve these laws." The Cabinet also approved the promotion of Brigadier General Elias Baisri to the rank of Major General.
