MPs convene to discuss state Budget

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A parliamentary session was held on Wednesday for the second day in a row to discuss the 2019 state’s Budget.

MP Paula Yaacoubian was the first to speak, delivering a speech in which she said that “she cannot vote with the suggested Budget.”

“I hope that we would draw lessons from the 2019 budget to draft a better one next year,” she added.

For his part, MP Farid Boustani said that he will vote in favor of the Budget despite that "it does not treat the problems hindering the economic advancement."

In turn, MP Inaya Ezzdine said that she was hoping that the suggested Budget would include an economic plan and “a road map for the good management of resources and capabilities of the Lebanese people.”

“But it did not reflect this, and we hope that next year’s Budget would include an operational plan to fight corruption," she added.

Ezzdine called on the lawmakers to study the draft laws related to the rights of Lebanese women, adding that the protection of women should be on top of the parliament and government’s priorities.

This as MP Ziad Hawat said that the “Budget is unable of saving Lebanon from its economic and financial crisis.”

As for MP Chamel Roukoz, he delivered a speech in which he said that “the most dangerous thing in the Budget is the targeting of the people with limited income and the middle class with unfair taxes and fees.”

For his part, MP Wehbe Qatisha said that the Budget "does not carry any future economic vision that might give some confidence and hope to solve the crises that were accumulated since years ago."

He also noted that bold measures are required in order to save the country.

For his part, MP Ibrahim al-Mousawi called for imposing taxes on wealthy people and on real estates owned by foreigners instead of cutting employees' salaries.

He also called on Speaker Nabih Berri to act in order to advance the villages of Baalbek – Hermel and to achieve a sustainable development in this region.

This as MP Sami Gemayel said during the evening session that the Budget is not based on an economic vision, criticizing the lack of accounts closure.

He also asserted that the Kataeb MPs will vote against the state’s Budget.

In turn, MP Alain Aoun called for drawing red lines for the budget’s deficit before starting to work on the 2020 budget.

As for imposing 2% taxes on certain goods, Aoun noted that such a move helps “to a certain extent in combating the trade deficit and in protecting and promoting local industry.”

He concluded by urging the government to fight tax evasion and to control the illegal border crossings.

As for MP Elias Hankash, he voiced rejection to the suggested state’s Budget, saying that he does not want to be “a false witness on the bankruptcy of the Lebanese state.”

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