Mustaqbal: Draft Wage Scale a Blatant Violation of Constitution

Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc noted Monday that the draft wage scale in its current form represents “a blatant violation of the constitution,” stressing that the pay raise must not have a “negative impact” on the financial situation in the country.

“Article 84 of the constitution allows the parliament and its committees to demand a decrease and not an increase in expenditure, as any increase requires a clear authorization from the government,” the bloc said in a statement issued after its weekly meeting.

“The increases and reimbursements must be realistic and calculated, in a manner that would not leave any negative impact on the financial situation in the country or the economic situation,” the bloc added.

The stance of the biggest bloc in parliament comes on the eve of a vote in the legislature over the controversial wage scale, which was approved by the joint parliamentary committees on Friday.

Al-Mustaqbal called for a “careful study of the draft law that would achieve the purpose without exhausting the the treasury,” urging “a series of binding economic and administrative reforms.”

Separately, the bloc hailed the unprecedented security plan that is being implemented in the Bekaa and Tripoli, but stressed that “Lebanon will not witness serious stability if Hizbullah does not withdraw from the ongoing fighting in Syria between the regime and its opponents.”

It also urged the party to abide by the Baabda Declaration and the self-dissociation policy, calling for resuming national dialogue over Hizbullah's arms and the country's defense strategy.

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