Salam Meets Berri, Voices Optimism over Resolving Civil Servants Salaries Row

Prime Minister Tammam Salam revealed that a solution to the civil servants salaries row is being discussed among the political powers, reported As Safir newspaper on Wednesday.

He expressed to the daily his optimism over resolving the dispute, revealing that the formula being studied will be proposed by Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil during the next cabinet session.

The premier made his remarks after holding talks on Tuesday with Speaker Nabih Berri at Ain el-Tineh.

Cabinet is scheduled to convene on Thursday.

Berri has meanwhile expressed his keenness to end the dispute over the civil servants salaries, confirming that solutions that follow legal means are being discussed.

For his part, Khalil told As Safir that he is committed to the legal means to pay the salaries.

“We are satisfied with the financial situation and we are now seeking the legalization of the spending,” he explained.

The minister had warned on Tuesday after meeting Berri of the possibility that civil servants may be deprived of their wages if no such law is passed.

“Any increase in expenditure requires legislation and the issue will be raised in cabinet,” Khalil added.

An Nahar daily reported on Wednesday that efforts are underway to resolve the dispute before Eid al-Fitr that falls next week.

Khalil has refused to budge regarding the financial crisis and the payment of civil servants' salaries at the end of the month if the cabinet and parliament failed to approve extra-budgetary spending.

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.

The Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc considers Khalil's move an attempt to press MPs to attend a parliamentary session and legislate despite a presidential vacuum as the March 14 alliance rejects to attend sessions unless to elect a new head of state.

M.T.

H.K.