Protesters clashing with security forces near the Lebanese parliament in Jan. 2020. (Photo credit: AFP)
BEIRUT — Calls for a protest on Wednesday morning, next to the Parliament at the time of a parliamentary session that will be held to discuss the 2022 budget's draft law, circulated on social media on Tuesday.
Parliament will also meet on Thursday and Friday this week to discuss the abovementioned draft law, the state-run National News Agency reported on Thursday.
Three sit-ins have been called for by the One Lebanon Coalition, The National Federation of Trade Unions and Employees in Lebanon, and other civil bodies, unions, associations, and civil and military retirees, in front of the Parliament, in refusal of approving the budget that they believe does not address their concerns. The sit-ins are scheduled to take place at 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
The Internal Security Forces released a statement informing citizens that the streets surrounding the Parliament will be closed and completely evacuated starting at 7:00 a.m. and for the duration of the sessions. The sessions are set to begin at 11:00 a.m. The statement urged citizens to abide by the instructions and directions in order to help “facilitate traffic and prevent congestion.”
Each fiscal year, the state budget must be finalized by the end of the year, or Dec. 31. The Ministry of Finance should prepare the pre-budget to be finalized by August, which is then sent to the Council of Ministers and should usually be approved by the cabinet's session around October, to then be sent to Parliament to vote on the budget before the end of the year. If the budget is not finalized and approved by the end of the year, as per Article 86 of the Constitution, there can be an extension of one month, where the budget of that month in the previous year would be used.
At this time, the overdue 2022 budget is still being debated, despite the 2023 budget deadline approaching a few months away.