The parliamentary Finance and Budget Committee, chaired by MP Ibrahim Kanaan, examined the Ministry of Defense's budget on Wednesday as part of its review of the draft budget for fiscal year 2024, which was approved by the Council of Ministers on September 12.
The committee met in the presence of the caretaker Finance Minister, Youssef el-Khalil, and representatives of the Army Command and the Ministry of Defense.
At the end of the session, Kanaan pointed out that the Ministry of Defense's budget includes the army budget in addition to that of several departments. "It's obvious that the main budget, which includes wide-ranging priorities, is devoted to the army. We are all aware of the exceptional situation we have been experiencing over the past few years and that has put the Lebanese army to the test with multiple burdens linked to equipment, medicine, nutrition and fuel. These issues have been negatively affected due to the country's financial and monetary collapse."
He added that army leaders have given their opinions on the draft budget. Many issues have been discussed with the Ministry of Finance, and some amendments to the draft submitted by the government have been accepted, particularly as relates to medical care, equipment, medicine and fuel. This was because the funds allocated to them "did not reach the minimum level required to accomplish the major tasks entrusted to the Lebanese army."
Kanaan stressed that a final session would still need to be held to approve the Ministry of Defense budget, based on data provided by the army's leadership. He announced the consensus between the Finance and Budget Committee and the various blocs present at the session to support the army in fulfilling its important missions, to the extent of the country's capacities. The Ministry of Finance is in favor of this approach, taking into account the existence of a LBP 78 billion reserve, part of which will be allocated to salary-related issues.
Responding to a question about the end of the budget review and the risk of it being published by decree, Kanaan said, "This is a potential risk if the blocs and deputies don't attend the sessions. The committee's conclusions will be summarized in a report submitted to the General Assembly by the end of January, thus respecting the constitutional deadline. If our work is not completed within this timeframe and the General Assembly does not meet to approve these amendments, the government will have the power to implement the budget as is."
The committee met in the presence of the caretaker Finance Minister, Youssef el-Khalil, and representatives of the Army Command and the Ministry of Defense.
At the end of the session, Kanaan pointed out that the Ministry of Defense's budget includes the army budget in addition to that of several departments. "It's obvious that the main budget, which includes wide-ranging priorities, is devoted to the army. We are all aware of the exceptional situation we have been experiencing over the past few years and that has put the Lebanese army to the test with multiple burdens linked to equipment, medicine, nutrition and fuel. These issues have been negatively affected due to the country's financial and monetary collapse."
He added that army leaders have given their opinions on the draft budget. Many issues have been discussed with the Ministry of Finance, and some amendments to the draft submitted by the government have been accepted, particularly as relates to medical care, equipment, medicine and fuel. This was because the funds allocated to them "did not reach the minimum level required to accomplish the major tasks entrusted to the Lebanese army."
Kanaan stressed that a final session would still need to be held to approve the Ministry of Defense budget, based on data provided by the army's leadership. He announced the consensus between the Finance and Budget Committee and the various blocs present at the session to support the army in fulfilling its important missions, to the extent of the country's capacities. The Ministry of Finance is in favor of this approach, taking into account the existence of a LBP 78 billion reserve, part of which will be allocated to salary-related issues.
Responding to a question about the end of the budget review and the risk of it being published by decree, Kanaan said, "This is a potential risk if the blocs and deputies don't attend the sessions. The committee's conclusions will be summarized in a report submitted to the General Assembly by the end of January, thus respecting the constitutional deadline. If our work is not completed within this timeframe and the General Assembly does not meet to approve these amendments, the government will have the power to implement the budget as is."
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