Speaker Nabih Berri adjourned the budget discussion session until 6 PM. The second session for discussing and approving the 2024 public budget bill began in parliament for the second day.
During the session, MP Halimeh Qaqour emphasized that it is "unacceptable to question the confidence in a government that has not earned our trust, and the absence of accountability suits the majority in power. For there to be accountability, the government must have a public policy and a plan." She clarified that "this budget reinforces the collapse, undermines development, and protects the powerful in authority while accountability for the government is stalled." She further stated that "taxes are necessary in the state and should not be vilified; the budget must impose progressive taxes, and there are many violations in the 2024 budget proposal."
MP Alain Aoun of the "Strong Lebanon" bloc noted during the 2024 budget discussion that "the government does not combat tax evasion and instead pressures those who comply with payments." He asked, "Where is the economic and reform dimension that the budget should include? The government has failed in this budget." Aoun also stated that "the previous model of state management cannot be revived; the era of the 'milk cow' is over, and no one should consider a zero deficit in the budget to be a good thing because public sector salaries are meager, services are nearly nonexistent, and investment expenditures are nearly zero. Ministry budgets are laughable and tragic." He confirmed that "there is no economic vision to assist the economy," pointing out that "we must stop the bidding on account cuts and financial statements."
MP Cynthia Zarazir remarked that "for years, during every budget, we see all the bloc MPs criticize the budget and attack the government. Ironically, the budget is prepared in a government they all represent, and they all criticize it, then they vote on and approve it." She added, "We gather while the state is without a head, and we have people wanted for justice in the Beirut port explosion case. Parliament protects fugitives from justice," explaining that "parliamentary immunity is not granted to MPs for committing crimes and hiding behind the council." Zarazir considered that "this budget is a formal procedure to meet the demands of the International Monetary Fund, lacks any financial reforms to protect society, does not build a productive economy, allows the demolition of the state, responds to the logic of brokerage, and confirms that this establishment is incapable of implementing reforms." She insisted that "this budget, like previous budgets, has led the country to this point, and it seems they haven't learned anything; 'everyone means everyone.' Your project today continues what the system of thieves and murderers started with blatant audacity," emphasizing that "voting on this budget project serves as a discharge of liability for a power lacking moral legitimacy, and there is no confidence in the budget or in the system that prepared it."
MP Razi Haj confirmed that "the budget project includes a violation of sovereignty and a disruption of the judiciary; this 2024 budget is a crime, as it neither restructures public debt, nor reforms the public sector, nor solves retirees' issues or other reforms." He stressed that "we must not accept a budget without an account cut," noting that "the budget project includes violations of sovereignty and disruption of the judiciary."
MP Osama Saad stated: "No to candidates of regional and international settlements, nor to candidates of bargains and compromises; electing a president is the people's right over MPs," calling for "the budget to be rejected." He emphasized that "resisting occupation is a fundamental and ongoing duty under all circumstances, and it is a national shame to abandon it," requesting that "the council issue a statement in solidarity with the Palestinian people, condemning the genocide and displacement perpetrated by the enemy and calling on the governments of countries to take urgent measures to stop the aggression."
MP Bilal Abdullah noted that "the private sector in Lebanon considers what it earns to be the economy, thus fleeing direct taxes." He asserted, "It is time to put an end to that, and I support raising taxes on medicines manufactured in Lebanon." He continued: "The budget in its current form was prepared hastily, and we hope to withdraw it and re-study it, as it does not serve its purpose."
MP Selim al-Sayegh asked during the 2024 budget discussion session, "Isn’t it time to restore Beirut and Lebanon to the state's care by electing a president? Why focus on many other issues when what is needed is restoring legitimacy?" He believed that "the absence of a president is a disruption of national partnership, as the constitution does not tolerate any regularity of democratic life in the absence of a president, leading to constitutional chaos." He clarified that "legitimacy begins with affirming citizens' rights to their state, and this budget is an escape from the logic of collapse and harms the legitimate economy." Al-Sayegh stressed that "we need to return to the science of economics and question the economic policy, and since I believe in a budget that champions the state rather than leads to collapse, I will not vote for this budget."
MP Faisal Karami pointed out that "only dialogue can get us out of all crises," noting that "all budgets to be approved without an account cut are unconstitutional." He said: "Yes to a budget in a time of waste, hoping we do not reach a time of wasted homeland under these policies."
MP Mark Doue stated that "this budget represents one of the largest examples of the government's resignation from its national responsibilities," considering that "the Finance and Budget Committee saved stability in the country with the amendments it made to the government’s proposal; otherwise, it would have been a catastrophe." He believed that "had the budget been approved as sent by the government, we would have seen the people's reaction" and emphasized that "we need to impose taxes on profits, not broad taxes on the Lebanese population."
MP Adnan Traboulsi conveyed greetings to "our people in the resilient and steadfast South facing Israeli aggression." Regarding the budget, he emphasized that "the government submitted a hybrid budget, which necessitated correcting it as much as possible by the Finance Committee; it lacks the basic principles for budget preparation, and we reject introducing taxes without considering citizens' capacity to bear those burdens."
MP Bilal Hashimi affirmed that "we cannot accept a large amount increased beyond the revenues without clarifications, and this budget resembles more abstract words unrelated to reality," noting that "the existing gaps in the budget are numerous and rely on a patchwork approach that leads to more problems."
A dispute arose between MPs Selim Aoun and Bilal Hashimi. Aoun, from the "Strong Lebanon" bloc, asked during the parliament session, "As a political team, someone tell me where the delays in electing a president are?" To which Speaker Berri replied: "I will tell you between you and me." This followed a debate between Aoun and Hashimi over comments made by MP Gebran Bassil regarding the non-election of a president changing the national pact. Hashimi responded, stating that it was ironic to hear this from someone who previously obstructed the election of a president. Aoun replied that "it's because you don't want partners in the homeland; partnership should impose this." Hashimi interjected, asking, "What partnership are you speaking of? The partnership only worked when the Sunnis entered."
MP Elias Bou Saab intervened, saying to Aoun: "Do not speak sectarianly," to which Aoun responded, "I will not reply to you or speak to you in a sectarian language."
MP Paula Yacoubian remarked during the session: "If the obstruction is internal, it would be a crime against the nation, and members of the establishment are playing a transparent game of shifting responsibilities. Have we turned into a war government? Can this country even endure a war?" She emphasized that "this budget is not reformist, resembles all previous budgets that led to the crisis, and lacks the simplest principles of tax reform." Yacoubian expressed that "there is no will to agree with the IMF, and what we hear from caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati is the most dangerous misrepresentation, claiming that Lebanon is overcoming the financial crisis," asserting that "she bears full responsibility as an MP wanting reform, and chaos will not last; you can't be trusted to manage a 'store.'"
MP Jihad Al-Samad noted that "discussing the budget amid the current conditions in Lebanon seems like luxury, and the current budget project feels to me like the best possible outcome; there could not have been a better approach."
MP Nabil Badr stated during the 2024 budget discussion session that "the state must protect its borders and security and the security of its citizens, and cannot assign that responsibility to any party, no matter its capabilities or sacrifices." He pointed out that "when we approved the previous budget, we were told it must be approved or all state facilities would be paralyzed, salaries would not be paid, and employees would suffer; today, the same scenario is repeating."
MP Firas Hamdan added: "Since October 7 until today, the government has not put an emergency plan in place, and there is an enemy on the border targeting us every day," asserting that "those who approve the budget without an account cut are corrupt."
