Hariri Slams ‘Fabricated’ Claims Published in Hizbullah Daily
Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s media office slammed “fabricated” reports published in Hizbullah's al-Akhbar daily on Tuesday alleging the PM has suggested hikes in taxes and fuel prices as part of austerity measures planned by the government.
The office said in a statement that “al-Akhbar newspaper is specialized in circulating daily abuses of everything related to PM Saad Hariri. This newspaper said today that an economic and financial paper was allegedly prepared by Hariri and includes procedures in the form of daily fabrications of that newspaper.”
In its Tuesday publication, the daily alleged the PM prepared a “paper” suggesting cuts to salaries of state employees, hikes in taxes and fuel prices, and many other unpopular financial measures that affect low-income earners, according to the daily.
Hariri’s office added: “The reform paper required to reduce the state deficit and stop the waste of funds is a subject of official discussion with all components of the government. It will be translated into the draft budget to be submitted by the Minister of Finance to the Cabinet.
“Reports published by the daily are falsely attributed to Prime Minister Hariri, and include fabricated ideas to sabotage economic advancement and the government program,” said the statement.
Source: Naharnet
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