Ibrahim Kanaan, the head of the Finance and Budget Committee, indicated after chairing a session with the Minister of Finance in the caretaker government, Yusuf Khaleel, that they had requested specific figures from the Ministry of Finance regarding the cost of tagging machines if they were to replace paper stamps, the cost of electronic stamps, and the timeframe required to adopt them instead of paper stamps, along with the interim measures to be implemented to stop the black market. Kanaan stated, "The black market is draining $200 million from the state treasury, and only $1.8 million has entered the treasury before 2023, which will reach $30 million. Is it acceptable to allow mafias in the country to roam freely in front of administrations and ministries without anyone stopping them?"
He continued, "Continuing with paper stamps is impossible, and we will not accept it. The claim of 'we can't do anything' is incorrect. We will pursue this issue, and we have given the Ministry of Finance a deadline, at their request, after confirming they are preparing the terms of reference and sending it to the Court of Accounts and the Public Procurement Authority. We urge the Court and the Authority to expedite the decision as soon as the file reaches them, as this forms the essential solution to the fraud against the people with a stamp priced at 10,000 Lira sold for three million Lira."
Kanaan added, "In the interim period, several measures are necessary: 1- There are 650 approved tagging machines in various locations across Lebanon, and we need to activate these machines. 2- Regarding personal status and mukhtars (local leaders), legislative measures are needed such as allowing the mukhtar and personal status authorities to collect the stamp fee or increase it based on the transaction price. This legal provision is required to limit theft. 3- Ensuring the market's temporary need for paper stamps until the electronic stamp is adopted. This is the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance. The ministry must complete the tender to end discussions about the shortage of financial stamps during the interim period, which will last between three to ten months."
Kanaan urged all deputies and blocs promoting the slogan of combating corruption to focus on “this point and accompany us in the Ministry of Finance's work with the Court of Accounts and the Public Procurement Authority, and the required tender, so the citizen can complete their transactions from home via the internet, without searching for a stamp and falling prey to extortion. Why can all countries in the world organize themselves with laws governing electronic stamps while Lebanon cannot? Because there is theft, and there are those who want to legitimize theft. Meetings should not be formal in a constitutional institution like the parliament. Meetings will be productive, continued, and actionable. The administration that does not implement and the judiciary that does not hold accountable should be the ones to be held accountable, not those striving for solutions, organization, and oversight."
He concluded by saying, "We have reached a summary that constitutes a serious roadmap for those who wish to follow up, and we will continue with the Ministry of Finance, the Court of Accounts, and Public Procurement on the tender for electronic stamps within weeks. This is a fundamental issue that generates additional revenue for the state treasury and stops the theft of citizens' livelihoods concerning their basic transactions such as obtaining civil registry papers, passports, or other transactions."
