The government approved a series of military and security appointments, the recruitment of 4,500 soldiers in three phases and a draft law to amend the tax provisions in the 2025 budget, during its ordinary session, held at the Presidential Palace in Baabda.
Among the key appointments, Brigadier General Rodolphe Haykal was named Commander-in-Chief of the Army, while Hassan Choucair was assigned Director-General of General Security, a position traditionally held by the Shiite community. General Edgar Lawandos was appointed Director-General of State Security, and Raed Abdallah was appointed Head of the Internal Security Forces. Brigadier General Mershed Sleimane was also appointed Deputy Director-General of State Security.
“These appointments are based on experience and competence, with a strong emphasis on adhering to the established standards and qualifications,” stated Minister of Information Paul Morcos after the ordinary session, which was chaired by President Joseph Aoun.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Yassine Jaber addressed the fiscal provisions of the 2025 budget, noting that the necessary amendments had been made and would be discussed in the upcoming government session.
President J. Aoun urged the minister to implement strict oversight of public spending. He also emphasized the importance of enforcing Article 118 of the Public Accounting Law, which mandates quarterly financial reviews, and called for regular reports to be submitted to the government.
Aoun then briefed the ministers on the outcomes of his discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation, announcing the formation of a committee to oversee these talks. The committee will be chaired by the Minister of Finance and includes the Minister of Economy, the interim Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon (BDL) and the Prime Minister’s advisor, Lamia Moubayyed. Aoun emphasized that the IMF has stressed the urgency of reaching an agreement before the summer of 2025, expressing concerns about previous, inconclusive negotiations. The primary objective is to restore both national and international confidence through comprehensive economic, financial and banking reforms. The delegation also underscored the need to swiftly appoint a new BDL Governor and establish a unified data center within the Ministry of Finance, according to the President. Additionally, the IMF has identified two legislative reforms as key priorities: amending the banking secrecy law and passing the banking restructuring bill.
The approval of an increase in the hourly rate for contract teachers was also confirmed by Minister of Education Rima Karameh.
Security and Prisoner Releases
In light of the recent developments in Syria, President J. Aoun assured that the security forces, alongside the Ministries of Interior and Defense, remain on maximum alert.
He also welcomed the release of five Lebanese prisoners held in Israel since the last war, emphasizing that this positive outcome resulted from indirect negotiations.
It is noteworthy that a meeting between Aoun and Salam took place prior to the Council of Ministers session, where the latest developments and the overall security situation were discussed.
An extraordinary Council of Ministers session is set for Monday to examine the procedures for administrative appointments. The meeting will be held at the Grand Serail, in Downtown Beirut.
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