Objections to draft budget approval, Hariri commemoration, event supporting Bahraini opposition goes ahead: Everything you need to know to start your Tuesday

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Hezbollah and Amal have both objected to the way in which the 2022 draft budget was approved. The announcement of the draft’s passing Thursday, after a cabinet session, was quickly followed by comments from Labor Minister Mustafa Bayram, who is close with Hezbollah, saying the draft budget “was not voted on legally.” Both Hezbollah and Amal have objected to the new budget, with Hezbollah official Nabil Kaouk saying, “It is unacceptable that the budget contains clauses that impoverish the population.” Sources close to Prime Minister Najib Mikati have defended cabinet’s approval of the draft, arguing the budget was passed in accordance with rules and regulations. Some have accused the Amal and Hezbollah duo of not wanting to take responsibility for any repercussions arising from the taxes and duties listed in the budget despite it being drafted by Finance Minister Youssef Khalil, who is close to Amal. The dispute has been connected in part to a surprise security appointment made during the same cabinet session. Speaker Nabih Berri accused President Michel Aoun and Mikati of approving a security appointment nominally allocated for the Shiite sect without his acquiesce and has instructed Khalil to not sign the appointment. Security appointments require the signature of the president, prime minister and finance minister. In a Saturday interview with pro-Hezbollah daily Al-Akhbar, Aoun lashed out at ministers connected with the Shiite parties, describing their behavior as “shameful” and saying he had given them the opportunity to suggest names. Meanwhile, yesterday the Amal Movement’s Political Bureau denounced “the chaotic and confused atmosphere during the last cabinet meeting, during which the principles of the constitution were flouted in form and substance,” but nonetheless the party said it would give serious consideration to the budget in Parliament. Additionally, Hezbollah officials indicated that they do not intend to boycott upcoming cabinet meetings.

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri quietly marked the 17th anniversary of his father’s assassination, without delivering a speech on the occasion. Rafik Hariri, also a former prime minister, was assassinated in a truck bomb explosion in 2005 along with 21 others in his convoy. His killing would later spark the so-called “Cedar Revolution” and the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon. Saad Hariri paid his respects yesterday alongside his aunt MP Bahia Hariri. Hariri returned to Beirut on Sunday and chaired a meeting of his political bloc where he reiterated his stance on withdrawing from politics and his boycott of the May 15 parliamentary elections, which he announced last month. He has been living in the United Arab Emirates ever since failing to form a government last July. Several other political figures also gathered Downtown yesterday to pay their respects, including Mikati, former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi. Hariri supporters gathered at various locations across Lebanon, including the gravesite in Downtown Beirut.

Meanwhile, Saad Hariri’s elder brother, Bahaa, announced that his party, Sawa li Lubnan, will field around 30 candidates in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Hariri announced this Sunday during an interview with Sawt Beirut International but did not reveal whether he will declare his own candidacy in the May 15 polls. During the interview, Bahaa Hariri outlined his party’s platform, emphasizing a reconciliation with Gulf countries as its top priority amid a persisting diplomatic rift with these countries that developed in the wake of the broadcast of comments by then-Information Minister George Kurdahi that were critical of Saudi involvement in the war in Yemen. The younger Hariri’s announcement of his withdrawal from political life in January has left a vacuum in the Sunni political scene, with many looking to fill it. Bahaa and others including former Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi have positioned themselves as hardliners against Hezbollah’s growing influence in the country.

Maronite Patriarch, Bechara Rai, warned yesterday against any attempt to postpone parliamentary elections. The patriarch also said that both the parliamentary elections and the upcoming October presidential election are the “inevitable way for Lebanon to become a respected state again.” A day earlier, President Michel Aoun had said that lack of funding could be used as an excuse to not hold elections on time. In light of the political instability and the ongoing economic crisis, there is increasing international pressure on the political class in Lebanon to avoid any delay in holding the polls. Last week, US Ambassador Dorthy Shea said “there is no wiggle room” for changing the date of the parliamentary elections.

An event critical of the Bahraini government went ahead last night despite a cancellation order issued last week by Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi. The event was hosted by Bahraini opposition group al-Wifaq in the Beirut suburb of Ghobeiry, which is considered a Hezbollah stronghold. The event commemorated 11 years since Bahrain witnessed a “peaceful and popular movement demanding justice, freedom and democratic transition.” Last Thursday, Mawlawi directed security forces to cancel this event and another similar one. He justified the action as being in line with the Kuwaiti initiative, which is aimed at healing Lebanon’s ongoing rift with a number of Gulf Arab states. The initiative calls on Lebanon to prevent any offenses against Gulf monarchies as well as to abide by UN Security Council resolutions 1559 and 1701.

In case you missed it, here’s our must-read story from yesterday: “A tale of opportunity and need: Illegal logging is rife in North Lebanon”