Prime Minister Saad Hariri chaired on Wednesday a cabinet session at the Grand Serail to continue the discussions of the 2020 state budget draft law.
Prior to the session, Defense Minister Elias Bou Saab answered a question about the case of Kanaan Naji, saying that “he has 4 arrest warrants issued against him and it is true that he has a facilitation of passage card from 2018, which I have sent to the LAF Intelligence chief and still waiting for a response.”
“I hope the card is a fake; otherwise we are facing a violation,” he added.
For his part, Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil noted that “the facts show that the budget will be finalized within the constitutional deadlines,” pointing out that he has not heard any change of opinion regarding the taxes and reforms from the Free Patriotic Movement.
In turn, Minister Mohammad Fneish said that they approve an increase of taxes imposed on luxuries, but object any tax affecting poor people.
As for Labor Minister Kamil Abou Sleiman, he said that they have not changed their opinion and will not approve the budget without structural reforms.