Lebanese Prime Minister Nagib Mikati on Jan. 28, 2022 at the Grand Serail, during a cabinet meeting. (Credit: Dalati and Nohra)
BEIRUT – The cabinet, presided over by Prime Minister Najib Mikati, continued its review of the draft budget submitted by Finance Minister Youssef Khalil during a meeting at the Grand Serail on Friday, marking the fourth day of consecutive meetings, the state-run National News Agency reported.
Here’s what we know:
• No statement was issued from interim Information Minister Abbas Halabi after the two-hour session concluded. Subsequent meetings to revise the 1,200 page budget before its submission to parliament were scheduled for Saturday at 9 a.m. and during the coming week.
• Mikati met with French Ambassador Anne Grillo prior to the meeting, the NNA reported.
• The adoption of the 2022 budget is considered the fulcrum to launching direly needed reforms amid the country’s various crises, which in turn would allow the country to access financing from the International Monetary Fund.
• The content of the draft budget has been the subject of various criticisms, including its differentiation of “old” and “new” bank deposits and the alleged prerogatives granted to Khalil. Khalil, reputedly close to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berry, has rejected the criticisms.