The Lebanese Parliament approved the release of 200 million dollars in advance to Electricité du Liban, in order to finance the purchase of fuel oil necessary for the operation of public electricity production plants.
Meeting this Monday, March 29 at the Unesco Palace due to the circumstances induced by the Coronavirus COVID19, the President of the Chamber, Nabih Berri had previously responded to the request of the outgoing Prime Minister Hassan Diab who had called him to clarify the powers attributed to the outgoing government. He thus indicated that “if it is a question of changing the constitution, that will not happen”, before calling for the formation of a government within 2 months. Lebanon could be in danger, if at all, he believes, comparing it to the Titanic.
The Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Finance and Budget had previously considered that the outgoing government should continue its mission and meet on an exceptional basis to make decisions related to the budget and the rationalization of public subsidies. Ibrahim Kanaan thus specified that the subsidy program would cost up to 11 billion annually in Lebanon and that this policy should have been modified a long time ago.
Turning to the issue of EDL subsidies, he believes the current advance is a temporary solution “or we will be left in darkness and hospitals and institutions closed.
