In a stormy atmosphere, MPs began examining, on Wednesday morning, the draft 2024 budget, transmitted to the Chamber by the government.
At the start of the session, MP for Beirut II Melhem Khalaf objected this legislative session held in the absence of a President of the Republic, leading to heated exchanges, notably with Speaker of the House Nabih Berri.
Similarly, an altercation pitted MP Firas Hamdan against his colleague MP Ali Hassan Khalil, who described him as "childish." "You're a bunch of mafiosi," said Khalil, referring to the Change MPs. This provoked a feverish atmosphere in the hemicycle.
Taking the floor, Ibrahim Kanaan, Chairman of the Parliamentary Finance and Budget Committee, deplored "the lack of economic and social vision in the draft budget put together by the Executive." In particular, he denounced "the low level of funds allocated to investment expenditure, not to mention the anarchic imposition of taxes."
Forty deputies asked to speak during the session.
It should be noted that the Finance and Budget Committee held a series of twenty-six meetings to examine the bill in question. Amendments were made to 87 of the 133 articles, 46 articles were abolished, 73 others were modified and 14 articles were approved. As a result, 90% of the draft submitted by the Ministry of Finance was amended or abolished.
At the start of the session, MP for Beirut II Melhem Khalaf objected this legislative session held in the absence of a President of the Republic, leading to heated exchanges, notably with Speaker of the House Nabih Berri.
Similarly, an altercation pitted MP Firas Hamdan against his colleague MP Ali Hassan Khalil, who described him as "childish." "You're a bunch of mafiosi," said Khalil, referring to the Change MPs. This provoked a feverish atmosphere in the hemicycle.
Taking the floor, Ibrahim Kanaan, Chairman of the Parliamentary Finance and Budget Committee, deplored "the lack of economic and social vision in the draft budget put together by the Executive." In particular, he denounced "the low level of funds allocated to investment expenditure, not to mention the anarchic imposition of taxes."
Forty deputies asked to speak during the session.
It should be noted that the Finance and Budget Committee held a series of twenty-six meetings to examine the bill in question. Amendments were made to 87 of the 133 articles, 46 articles were abolished, 73 others were modified and 14 articles were approved. As a result, 90% of the draft submitted by the Ministry of Finance was amended or abolished.
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