Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, is currently chairing a cabinet session at the Grand Serail, in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Saadeh al-Shami and ministers.
“Our presence in this session today is to manage the urgent affairs of citizens, to maintain the activity of public facilities, as well as to affirm our keen concern on every Lebanese citizen’s dignity, security, and stability,” Mikati said in an address to the convening cabinet.
“We will not spare an opportunity to cooperate with all concerned sides to rescue the economy, ensure bank deposits, and maintain financial balance,” Mikati added.
“We’ve previously affirmed in the ministerial statement our respect for the judiciary and our intention to refrain from interfering in its affairs, but there are matters that concern the supreme Lebanese interest, and the course of the judiciary, which affects the course of justice. (…) In exceptional circumstances, there are exceptional decisions that must be taken — no one should think that we are protecting some person or individuals. Our goal is to protect the banking sector because it is an essential pillar of the economy; therefore, we want this sector to be dealt with through the banking restructuring bill that we had submitted to the House of Parliament,” Mikati explained.
“The country’s top priority remains the election of a new President of the Republic since this election is the gateway to reorganizing public work, especially amid these difficult circumstances,” Mikati added.
“This week I met with Total, which confirmed that its course of action is proceeding as planned and scheduled, and that it’s in the process of starting all the necessary tests to begin the extraction process,” noted Mikati.
“There is also an item on our agenda to give public administration employees a compensation in exchange for their productivity, and in this context I address the retirees, especially the military ones, to confirm my keenness to give them their rights according to the authority granted to us by the House of Parliament and based on the decision of the Council of Ministers,” Mikati added.
Source: National News Agency-Lebnon