The President of the Republic Michel Aoun. (Credit: Dalati and Nohra)
BEIRUT — In its last meeting before the government is officially resigned, the cabinet is set to discuss increasing telecoms tariffs, along with the government's economic recovery plan, and more than 100 other items.
Here’s what we know:
• President Michel Aoun will chair the last cabinet meeting before the government will be considered resigned as of May 22 and reduced to a caretaker status with limited decision-making power. The meeting is held today at 2:30 p.m. at Baabda Palace with an agenda of 133 items.
• The meeting will focus on the results of the recent parliamentary elections, and will tackle critical files such as the economic recovery plan, and increasing taxes and telecommunications tariffs.
• Telecommunications Minister Johnny Corm asked the cabinet to approve the tariff increase for Ogero and the telecom operators in a press conference on Thursday. Corm threatened to resign if his proposal was not approved. Annahar reported that the new tariffs will be calculated based on the Sayrafa rate, after existing tariffs are adjusted lower by a factor of four or five. This means that a $100 invoice, equivalent to LL150,000 when calculated at the official rate of LL1,500 per US dollar, will increase to around LL450,000 and LL600,000.
• Deputy Prime Minister Saade Chami will present the government’s economic plan and an overview of the accompanying economic and monetary policies. The plan was sent to parliament on April 20.
• Finance Minister Youssef Khalil will expand on the issue of using the Sayrafa rate for the calculation of certain taxes, such as custom taxes.
• The Energy Minister Walid Fayad has asked the cabinet to authorize him to sign on behalf of the Lebanese government long-awaited energy agreements with Egypt and Jordan.
• Other articles on the agenda relate to treasury advances to various departments and ministries.