The cabinet deferred the session until Friday at 10 am to continue discussions over the issue of the pay scale.
Information Minister Melhem al-Riachi stressed that the atmosphere is positive, noting that the new legal measures to deal with the issue of the pay scale and the tax law will be announced on Friday.
In this regard, the salaries for the current month will be paid in accordance with the new scale, but it will be suspended later until a source for funding is guaranteed.
The cabinet had convened earlier Thursday in a session at Baabda presidential palace under the chairmanship of President Michel Aoun to continue discussions regarding the available options in light of the decision issued by the Constitutional Council to repeal the new tax law, passed to ensure revenues to fund the pay scale.
Prior to the session, Deputy Prime Minister Health Minister Ghassan Hasbani said that their role is not to rule between the parliament and the Constitutional Council, but to guarantee pay scale and its funding, since it is a right for the people from the date it was published.
Commenting on the issue of suspending the article 87 of the Constitution, Hasbani explained that this is among the prerogatives of the president.
For his part, Public Works and Transportation Minister Youssef Finianos said that the president has right to suspend the article 87 of the Constitution, but the parliament has also to approve, adding that paying the pay scale without ensuring means of funding will harm the country.
He noted that “everyone agrees that the Constitutional Council overstepped its authority by including tax legislation in the budget.”
In turn, Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil said that “it is not easy to suspend the articles from the Constitution.”
State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Qanso declared his objection to the Constitutional Council decision to link the issue of the revenues and taxes to the budget.
“We support paying the salaries based on the new pay scale and within two weeks we will discuss the taxes and revenues and amend some items such as 11 and 17,” he added.
Economy and Commerce Minister Raed Khoury said that the atmosphere shifted towards positivity, expecting to reach solutions during the session.
For his part, State Minister for Women’s Affairs Jean Ogassapian stressed the need to pay the salaries according to the pay scale, regardless of the solution.
A closed meeting was held between the president and the prime minister, where they discussed the latest developments and general situation.