Parliamentary committee meeting on April 22, 2025. (Credit: Hassan Ibrahim/Lebanese Parliament/Flikr)
BEIRUT — Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri announced a plenary legislative session for Thursday at 11:00 a.m. to discuss various bills and proposals on the agenda, the state-run National News Agency reported Tuesday.
Deputy Parliamentary Speaker Elias Bou Saab said, cited by NNA, that “today, the agenda was finalized, with 23 items listed."
Bou Saab also mentioned that one of the main items on the agenda is the draft law on banking secrecy, which was approved by the joint committees in their last session.
A joint commission of MPs adopted a banking secrecy reform bill with minor changes.
The bill is pivotal for receiving financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which has conditioned its support for Lebanon on the implementation of an anti-corruption framework.
Lebanon renewed its request to the IMF in February to be accepted into the financial assistance program, promising transparency and banking sector restructuring.
'Delaying municipal elections is not an option'
Bou Saab also emphasized that “there is firm opposition to any delay in municipal elections, especially since the deadline for candidacy in Mount Lebanon is next Wednesday.
He stated, "Delaying the elections is not an option."
Lebanon's last municipal elections took place in 2016, and councils were elected for six years. The elections have been postponed three times, in 2022, 2023 and 2024. As a result, many municipal councils have either resigned or are unable to carry out their duties due to a lack of financial and human resources.
Bou Saab added that the discussions will also focus on the Beirut municipal elections, highlighting the city’s national significance. "There is a national consensus on maintaining the balance in Beirut, and we hope to reach an agreement on this during the plenary session."
Bou Saab also highlighted other urgent laws on the agenda, including those related to the reconstruction of buildings damaged during the Israeli aggression, as well as a law concerning the education sector. This education law includes amendments to a recently enacted legislation on pensions and compensation funds, a matter that has been a point of contention for the past year and a half. Bou Saab noted that an agreement was reached with all concerned parties, including representatives of private schools and teachers, to resolve the issue.
