Change and Reform Warns against 'Paralyzing Institutions, Losing Foreign Loans'

The Change and Reform parliamentary bloc stressed Tuesday the need to maintain the work of state institutions amid the presidential void, warning that the country might lose foreign loans and donations that have been put on hold due to the political crisis.

“The bloc stressed the need to maintain the work of state institutions and to exert efforts to prevent their paralysis, especially regarding the necessary and essential matters which affect all Lebanese,” MP Ibrahim Kanaan announced after the bloc's weekly meeting in Rabieh.

He said Change and Reform also discussed “the issue of the frozen loans and the warnings by ambassadors about putting huge foreign funds on hold.”

“The issue must be addressed in a serious manner, because it affects a lot of plans that have been devised by the state,” Kanaan added.

On Monday, a French minister warned that the presidential vacuum and the deadlocked institutions are impeding 166 million euros ($182 million) in French development aid to Lebanon.

“We reiterate our stance that considers the legislation of necessity as a vital issue as there is a higher interest that must be respected,” Kanaan added.

Speaker Nabih Berri distributed on Tuesday the agenda of an upcoming legislative session on the members of the parliament's bureau. The members of the bureau will then hold discussions with political blocs ahead of holding a meeting for the parliament bureau during which a date for the legislative session would be scheduled.

“There are examples such as the naturalization law, which has to do with the rights of all Lebanese. There is also the formation of institutions, which is one of the main laws that we're demanding that they be put on parliament's agenda,” Kanaan said.

He also hoped, in the name of the bloc, that the cabinet's April 16 session will discuss the so-called final account law.

Y.R.