Naharnet

Khalil Promises to Pay Salaries of Civil Servants but Warns against Illegal Acts

Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil appeased fears on Monday that civil servants would not be paid their salaries at the end of the month because of the paralysis of parliament.

“There is no problem in paying their salaries,” Khalil said during a press conference he held at his office.

“I want all the public opinion to know that there should be legal spending,” he said. “We should give people their rights and stay within legal boundaries.”

Parliament should pass draft-laws allowing the government to approve treasury loans. But lawmakers have been boycotting legislative sessions over the vacuum at the presidency.

He vowed to exert all efforts to pay civil servants their salaries but stressed that lines of credit can't be opened unless they are legal.

“I haven't approved any treasury loan for any ministry” so far, he stressed to dismiss any rumor that he would take such a step to cover public administration expenses.

Khalil urged MPs to approve financial draft-laws.

Central Bank Governor Riyad Salameh told As Safir newspaper on Monday that the wages for the public sector would be guaranteed.

G.K.

M.T.


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