Suleiman Meets GLC: Cabinet Decisions Must Be Respected

President Michel Suleiman stated on Thursday that the dispute over the transportation allowance must not be left unresolved, reported the National News Agency.

He demanded that all cabinet decisions be respected “in accordance with the mechanism that has been adopted for 16 years.”

He made his statements after holding talks with a delegation from the General Labor Confederation headed by Ghassan Ghosn.

“Political tensions between the various parties should be limited to the political field and not take place at the expense of the people,” stressed Suleiman.

The president hoped that all sides “would return to reason” and end the current government deadlock.

In January, the cabinet approved a wage hike decree while the transportation and education allowances remain the contention point as Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas was tasked by the government to prepare a draft law and refer it to the parliament for adoption, allowing the government to set the minimum rates for transportation and education allowances, thus “legalizing” them.

The premier and the ministers of MP Michel Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement have bickered over Miqati’s decision to appoint top civil servants in state posts reserved for Christians without consulting them.

The dispute culminated with Miqati deciding to suspend cabinet sessions on February 1.

The suspension was prompted when FPM ministers walked out from a session that was held on that same day.

“The move is meant to push everyone to act responsibly and use their energy positively, towards the smooth run of state affairs not the opposite,” the prime minister said.