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BUDGET 2022

Amal voices opposition to 'any new tax' that targets the poor or middle class

BEIRUT — The Amal Movement, which is led by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, voiced opposition Monday to “any new tax targeting the middle and the poor classes.” The party’s statement comes ahead of cabinet’s 2022 draft budget discussions, which are scheduled to begin Tuesday.

Here’s what we know:

    • In its statement, Amal said, "We are against any new tax targeting the middle and poor classes, who are suffering from the deterioration of the socio-economic situation, which has led to an almost total collapse.” The statement continued, "Any measure of that kind must be studied in parallel with an overall growth plan and a serious revision of salaries in the various sectors.”

    • “New taxes in the absence of growth will cause more recession and deepen the financial crisis,” Amal said, adding that the party is "open to discussions and to any proposal presented.”

    • On Monday morning, during the first cabinet meeting in three and a half months, Finance Minister Youssef Khalil, who is affiliated with Amal and Hezbollah and who participated in writing the 2022 budget draft, defended himself saying that the draft "does not contain new taxes as has been said."

    • The budget — the present draft of which may be amended after cabinet discussions — is a key demand, alongside reforms, of the International Monetary Fund in order for it to assist the Lebanese government with financial aid that would alleviate the country’s unprecedented economic crisis.

    • Following Monday’s cabinet meeting, the government said it would meet again Tuesday to discuss the draft budget and would continue to meet daily until its study of the budget is complete.

    • Meetings between a Lebanese delegation and the IMF experts are also scheduled for Monday to discuss a recovery plan for Lebanon aimed at pulling it out of its financial collapse. 

BEIRUT — The Amal Movement, which is led by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, voiced opposition Monday to “any new tax targeting the middle and the poor classes.” The party’s statement comes ahead of cabinet’s 2022 draft budget discussions, which are scheduled to begin Tuesday.Here’s what we know:    • In its statement, Amal said, "We are against any new tax targeting the...