Cabinet Discusses Ministries Budgets, Postpones 'Customs Dollar' Debate

Cabinet convened Wednesday at the Grand Serail to resume the discussion of the 2022 draft budget.

Cabinet discussed the so-called customs dollar but no agreement was reached concerning the LBP to USD exchange rate that will be used to calculate customs on imports. The current rate is 1,500 Lebanese Lira to 1 dollar. The issue will be postponed to another session.

Cabinet will also discuss the ministries' budgets.

On Saturday Cabinet had asked Energy Minister Walid Fayyad to justify a treasury advance that his ministry had requested as a funding for Électricité du Liban. On Monday, Cabinet also asked Fayyad for further inquiries.

Fayyad reportedly said he is presenting a clear plan to increase daily hours than raise the electricity prices.

Meawhile, taxi and public transportation drivers blocked several vital roads across Lebanon to pressure the government to take a decision on improving the conditions of the drivers.

"We hope the Cabinet, during its session, will take a decision on the agreement that had been reached between the union and the government," Head of the Unions and Syndicates of Land Transport Sector Bassam Tlais said.

He added that if Cabinet approves their demands, all roads will be open.

If not, the strike is scheduled to continue until Friday with sit-ins from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m.

MTV said it has learned that Cabinet will not discuss the unions' demands today.

On Monday, Cabinet had asked Finance Minister Youssef Khalil to study the possibility of finding financial resources to meet the land transport unions' demands presented by Public Works Minister Ali Hamiyeh, as Cabinet is not financially capable of resolving the issue.

Cabinet has been meeting since Tuesday to discuss the 2022 draft budget, a prerequisite to unlock the International Monetary Fund aid.

It will resume its meetings on Thursday.