The Council of Ministers met on June 16, 2025, at the presidential palace in Baabda. (Credit: Lebanese presidency's X account.)
BEIRUT —At a Cabinet meeting held Monday at Baabda Palace and presided over by President Joseph Aoun, the government approved a series of long-delayed diplomatic appointments, Information Minister Paul Morcos announced. The appointments had been stalled since 2017.
Regarding the electoral law, the minister specified that "discussions have begun around the desired amendments and a ministerial committee has been formed to examine them."
Indeed, MP Ali Hassan Khalil (Shia Amal movement) proposes two laws: the first text suggests amending the 2017 electoral law, under which the parliamentary elections of 2018 and 2022 were conducted, for the upcoming elections. It proposes replacing the current 15 constituencies with a single one, based on proportional representation.
The second concerns the creation of a Senate. According to the proposal, this upper house would be composed of 46 members elected on a basis of confessional quotas and parity between Christians and Muslims, while deputies would no longer be elected based on confessions as is currently the case.
Tarek Mitri's plan for the return of Syrian displaced persons
Also during his address to the press, Paul Morcos stated that the Council had examined and approved the proposal of Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri regarding the plan for the return of Syrian displaced persons.
The number of Syrian migrants and refugees in Lebanon is estimated at over 1.5 million since 2011 until the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December 2024, with internally displaced (in Lebanon) estimated at 1.2 million at the height of the war between Hezbollah and Israel, between September and November 2024. This very large number of refugees weighs on Lebanon, especially given the economic and financial crisis that has plagued the country since 2019.
The government has also decided to reconsider the proposal to create a Technology and Artificial Intelligence Ministry. It has also agreed to sign an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) with a view to establishing a resident representative office of the IMF in Lebanon.
Furthermore, the Council approved "an increase in the amount of the housing allowance per beneficiary, raising it from $50,000 to $100,000." These subsidized housing loans will be for low and medium-income Lebanese and people with special needs.
Energy and Water Minister Joe Saddi, indicated having proposed to suspend the issue of raising fuel prices, "while emphasizing that the principle of support for the military remains non-negotiable. I proposed to return before the Council of Ministers with a complete proposal."
On May 29, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's government decided to increase taxes on fuels: 100,000 pounds levied on every 20 liters of gasoline sold (about 1.1 dollars at the market rate) and 174,000 pounds on every 20 liters of diesel (about 1.94 dollars). A tax imposed on all motorists without distinction, in order to fund monthly aid for the army: 14 million pounds for active military personnel and 12 million pounds for retired military personnel, effective from July 1, 2025.
This decision had aroused the anger of the General Confederation of Lebanese Workers (CGTL) and the land transport union.
'Sparing Lebanon' from the Israel-Iran conflict
According to Morcos, Salam stressed "the necessity of sparing Lebanon any involvement, in any form, in the ongoing conflict, due to the repercussions that would ensue and with which the country has no connection." His remarks were made in the context of an extremely tense regional situation since Israel conducted night raids from Thursday to Friday against Iran to put an end to its nuclear program, and Iran retaliated by sending missiles to Israeli territory repeatedly.
President Joseph Aoun insisted on "the necessity of making every possible effort to keep Lebanon away from conflicts that do not concern it," expressing the hope that "the regional situation does not hinder the opportunities available to the country," according to the state-run National News Agency.
The Prime Minister indicated having asked Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to "implement decisions regarding weapons in Palestinian camps," while the government had set yesterday for the start of disarmament operations in Palestinian camps.
