The main wall of one of the entrance halls of the Lebanese Parliament. Illustration photo by Philippe Hage Boutros/L'Orient-Le Jour.
BEIRUT — The government's adoption of the 2025 budget by decree on Thursday, bypassing Parliament, continued to spark reactions from the politicians on Friday. Gebran Bassil, leader of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) and now positioned in opposition, called for the document to be amended by Parliament, deeming it "necessary."
The budget, drafted by the previous government, was adopted during the first meeting of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's Cabinet. Finance Minister Yassine Jaber was tasked with preparing a law to review the taxes outlined in the finance law.
Salam said the procedure, authorized under Article 86 of the Constitution, was intended to avoid "any obstruction and delay." He promised that the 2026 budget would focus on "development and reforms."
The budget, finalized hastily by the outgoing government, which was in caretaker status, was sent to Parliament in late September 2024, just before the start of the war between Hezbollah and Israel.
'Major modifications' in parliament
In a message on X, Bassil criticized the government's move, stating, "The budget is the most important task for the government, through which it translates its vision. However, the first project presented is that of a resigning government for the past three years," Bassil said, referring to the government of former Prime Minister Najib Mikati. "This means that 10 months of reforms have been lost for a government that only lasted 14 months."
He called for "reforms" and emphasized the need for "major modifications" in Parliament, especially as an International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation is set to visit Beirut next week.
Following the Cabinet meeting, civil society MP Paula Yacoubian announced plans to file an invalidation appeal with the Constitutional Council, a process requiring the votes of 10 parliamentarians.
'The best possible option'
Information Minister Paul Morcos defended the government's decision in an interview with Radio La Voix du Liban, explaining that Article 86 of the Lebanese Constitution allows the Cabinet to issue an executive decree approving the 2025 draft finance law while sending a separate project to modify certain provisions deemed unfair.
He also stressed the need to avoid hindering public services, facilitate administrative procedures, and ensure the state’s proper functioning. Morcos argued that the 2025 budget was "the best possible option," dismissing the risk of invalidation by the Cabinet, as the government had conducted a "thorough study" of the draft law before making its decision.
Finance Minister Yassine Jaber, in an interview with Nida’ al-Watan, promised a "reformist budget" for the 2026 fiscal year and said his ministry had already begun the necessary work to achieve it. Jaber said the 2025 budget would maintain financial balance by reducing expenses and addressing any potential increase in the deficit.
He echoed Morcos, stating that adopting the budget by decree was "the best choice" possible. "One of the worst decisions would have been to adopt the rule of temporary twelfths, resort to Treasury advances, and spend without a budget," Jaber said. "One of the worst decisions we could have made would have been to adopt the rule of temporary twelfth, resort to Treasury advances, and spend without a budget. How could we adopt such an option when we are on the eve of resuming negotiations with the IMF?" added Jaber.