The Minister of Economy and Trade in the caretaker government, Amin Salam, confirmed in an interview with "Al-Hurra" channel that "the subsidy file is the largest corruption file Lebanon has ever encountered, especially in the years of previous governments." He stated that "the biggest waste occurred in the fuel sector, which Lebanon did not benefit from, followed by food items, particularly the food basket that was unjustified and poorly studied by all standards."
Regarding his visit to America, Salam confirmed that "the main objectives of the visit, specifically the meeting with the World Bank, were to discuss the mechanism that will be put in place for the phase after the current World Bank loan for flour expires. It was agreed to work on Plan B for the phase following the end of the current amount."
He announced this "plan," stating: "In its details, the data that the Ministry of Economy has been working on over the past year and a half will be collected, and it will be supplemented with data from the Ministry of Social Affairs, which targets the poorest families registered to benefit from the Aman program, specifically all public sector employees who receive their salaries in Lebanese pounds. After that, work will focus on what is called rationalizing support. Through this, all new funds that will be agreed upon to receive from the World Bank will be converted into a financial card worth $20 or $25 per month to buy bread. Random support for so-called goods will also be stopped."
He pointed out that "this card will go to registered families and members of the security and military forces, as well as underprivileged families and individuals who still receive their salaries in Lebanese pounds." Salam asserted that "the bundle of bread is the cheapest item in Lebanon; it is cheaper than gum." He said, "I received reports from abroad that the bundle of bread in Lebanon is the cheapest bread in the world and also the lowest-priced bread in the Middle East. The World Bank told me that this price does not exist anywhere in the world."
He noted that "pricing in dollars has created a type of competition," stating, "The rise in prices is not due to dollarization, but rather due to the greed of some traders. Therefore, work was done with the legislative authority, away from the judiciary, to amend precise laws related to consumer protection, raising the value of fines for violations by traders and supermarkets to very large amounts starting from $5,000 and more."
He added: "In the new amendments, the Ministry of Economy received a type of judicial police authority, allowing it to close and seal establishments with a red wax." Salam emphasized that "this law reached the subcommittee of the parliament, and it must pass in one way or another; the effect of this law will be valid once executed, and then an objection can be made, meaning the fine must be paid first and then later contested in court."
He spoke about "working with the private sector, customs, and the World Food Organization on mechanization according to an advanced system, which will issue a daily list, not weekly or monthly, of the real prices of about a hundred commodities," noting that "this step will enhance competition and will begin in about a month and a half."
