The Council of Ministers is set to convene on Tuesday at the Grand Serail to discuss a comprehensive agenda, including several items, alongside a presentation from Finance Minister Youssef Khalil on the 2025 draft budget.
However, this session may be disrupted by impending protests from retired military personnel. They are calling for a salary adjustment of no less than 40% of what they earned before the financial crisis. These demands are aimed at protecting their livelihoods and defending the rights of both active and retired military members.
The Retired Military Association has addressed a letter to the ministers, urging them to suspend participation in Cabinet sessions until salary adjustments are added to the agenda.
The letter reads: “Honorable Ministers, members of the Together for the Rescue government, according to the minutes of the Cabinet session held on February 28, 2024, your esteemed Council decided to task the Civil Service Council with preparing a reform plan for salaries and wages, with a deadline of three months. After reviewing the agenda for the Cabinet sessions scheduled for Tuesday, September 10, 2024, and the 2025 draft budget, it is evident that there is no item addressing a salary and wage adjustment plan. Moreover, the budget draft and its articles make no mention of salary and wage corrections. In light of the above, we ask that you announce your suspension from attending any Cabinet sessions until the following actions are taken:”
* The Prime Minister’s Office should release an agenda that includes salary, wage, and pension adjustments as the first item.
* The reform proposal for wage adjustments should be circulated at least 48 hours before any upcoming Cabinet session to allow for informed decision-making.
* A commitment to approve the demands of retired military personnel as detailed in the legal platform’s submission, attached herein.
In this regard, following the threat to stop ministers from reaching tomorrow’s session, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s media office released the following statement:
“The Prime Minister has called for a Cabinet meeting tomorrow to begin discussions on the 2025 draft budget. It was surprising that retired military personnel have already called for protests, blocked roads, and threatened to prevent ministers from reaching the Grand Serail for the session. The Prime Minister is puzzled by this escalation, especially since the budget discussions, which include the rights of public sector employees—both civilian and military, active and retired—have yet to begin. It’s important to note that the government is in the process of implementing temporary measures to provide social assistance to public sector employees, pending the budget’s approval by Parliament.
This measure has previously been applied to both active and retired military personnel. While the Prime Minister fully respects freedom of expression, he believes that retired military personnel are entitled to voice their concerns, but not at the expense of others’ rights to move freely and work. Furthermore, these actions should not obstruct the functioning of the Cabinet or disrupt the ministers’ movements.
In light of this, the Prime Minister has directed the army and security forces to take appropriate measures that maintain public order while respecting the right to protest and express dissent through democratic channels.”
Retired Military Personnel’s Reply to Mikati
The Retired Military Personnel Association has expressed surprise at the statement from Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s media office. The association criticized the statement for omitting the fact that the government had committed to a three-month deadline to develop a plan for correcting salaries and wages. Over six months have passed with no progress or plan presented.
The association also questioned the decision of ministers to proceed with tomorrow’s session without a clear plan for wage corrections. They expressed concern that the updated Cabinet agenda issued today does not include a plan for salary and wage adjustments.
In a statement, the association criticized the claims made by the Prime Minister’s media office, stating, “The budget draft clearly shows that the media office’s assertions are unfounded. We urge the media office to avoid misleading and deceptive practices, as those affected, who earn just $220, are acutely aware of their struggle to make ends meet. Furthermore, the budget draft does not include any provisions for increasing public sector salaries; instead, the only increases are related to taxes and fees. Mr. Prime Minister, you could cancel the Cabinet session and meet with the Retired Military Personnel Association’s communication committee to address the issue. We can then discuss further steps as needed.”
The association reaffirmed its call for “the families of active-duty military personnel, the families of martyrs and the disabled, all retired military personnel, and all citizens suffering from the Together for the Rescue government’s policies of impoverishment and deprivation to mobilize starting at 6 a.m. on Tuesday. This action is in support of the right of all citizens, employees, and retirees—both military and civilian—to a decent standard of living.”
Steer Clear of these Roads
- Entrance to ESCWA, Beirut
- Entrances from Riad El Solh Square towards the Grand Serail and Martyrs’ Square (6 entrances)
- Pedestrian pathways from Martyrs’ Square
- Entrances to Martyrs’ Square from Weygand Street (5 entrances)
- Entrance on Abdul Hamid Karameh Street
- Entrance on Avenue des Français towards the Council for Development and Reconstruction
- Entrance near Bank Audi
- Entrance near Beit al-Wasat
. Entrance on Wadi Abou Jmil Street near Saint Elias Church
. Entrance to Mroueh Alley
. Entrance to the road branching off from Fouad Chehab Highway towards Zokak el-Blatt
. Entrance to the Grand Serail from Zokak el-Blatt
. Entrance to the British Embassy
. Entrance to the Australian Embassy
