Fadel Donates His Parliamentary Salary to Combat Poverty in Tripoli

Mustaqbal bloc MP Robert Fadel announced on Friday that he will be donating his monthly salary as a lawmaker to combat poverty in the northern city of Tripoli, following the example of Kataeb Party MP Sami Gemayel who made a similar announcement on Thursday.

He said in a statement: “Poverty has started to act as a direct threat to civil peace.”

He added that combating poverty has been at the core of his work, stressing the need to create job opportunities that will confront this phenomenon.

The MP said that he had previously proposed a draft-law before parliament “aimed at eliminating poverty in Lebanon through a specific mechanism that focuses on supporting the poorest families by transforming them into productive and effective ones.”

“Seeing as Tripoli is one of the poorest cities on the Mediterranean, according to reports by international organizations, and seeing as it has suffered from security unrest, I have decided to donate my monthly salary in order to combat poverty in the city,” declared Fadel.

Gemayel had announced on Thursday that he would be giving up his salary as a lawmaker to support the families of army martyrs.

Gemayel and Fadel's decisions came as parliament earlier this week decided to extend its term for a second time.

The mandate will end in 2017, postponing parliamentary elections again amid a political stalemate and insecurity tied to the conflict in neighboring Syria.

The extension decision was met by a huge popular dismay.

M.T.

Y.R.