Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq declared Wednesday that the date of the sub-elections will be set during the upcoming week, noting that the decree to be issued in this regard does not require to be passed through cabinet procedure.
During the cabinet session held at Baabda palace, the ministers discussed the mechanisms of appointments at public administrations and institutions, as well as the possibilities of violating these mechanisms turning them into a choosing mechanism done of the concerned minister.
Concerning the refugees and safe zones, no decision has been made in this regard after the positions were divided during the session between the ministers, where a debate erupted between Minister Michel Faraon and Minister Ali Qanso. President Michel Aoun then intervened to end the debate.
On another note, another heated debate erupted between Ministers Nouhad al-Mashnouq and Salim Jreissati concerning the intervention in the judiciary’s work, mainly regarding the arms chaos. This prompted Minister Hussein Hajj Hassan to request a list of names of the detainees that were released following the interference of politicians.
Following the session, Information Minister Melhem Riachi declared that the item pertaining to turning the Syndicate of Editors into a syndicate for all journalists was approved.
President Michel Aoun
At the beginning of the cabinet session, President Aoun noted that during 80 days, the revenue of the customs has increased by 6.4% compared to last year, given that the imports have decreased by 15%, praising the role of the Lebanese army and security forces and warning of the possibility of the refugee camps becoming an incubator for terrorism.
He also urged the judiciary to play an essential role in ending the security chaos and coordinating with the security forces in order to impose the authority of the state. He called to be strict and firm in preventing any violations and infringements against maritime properties.
Prime Minister Saad Hariri
PM Hariri stressed that the issue of arms chaos will be dealt with through procedures to be taken on the ground.