Budget Cabinet Session Called Off over Lack of Quorum

A cabinet session dedicated to discussing the 2017 state budget was called off on Monday due to a lack of quorum.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri and 18 ministers waited for the arrival of their colleagues for around one hour before the session was postponed.

LBCI television identified the absent ministers as Ayman Shuqair, Jamal al-Jarrah, Pierre Raffoul, Pierre Bou Assi, Cesar Abi Khalil, Melhem Riachi, Talal Arslan, Ghazi Zoaiter, Michel Pharaon, Mohammed Fneish and Nouhad al-Mashnouq, saying some of them are outside the country, some are “ill” while others have not offered any explanation.

Several ministers stressed that the absence of their colleagues is not “politically motivated.”

A statement issued by Hariri's press office said the premier “canceled a cabinet session scheduled for 4:00 pm at the Grand Serail after a number of ministers failed to show up on time.”

Quoting sources close to the prime minister, LBCI television said a “dismayed” Hariri decided to call off the session to send a message to the “negligent” ministers that their behavior is “unacceptable.”

The botched session was one of three consecutive sessions scheduled for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to continue the discussion of the state budget.

Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil had announced after a session on Thursday that “very big progress” has been made towards approving the budget.

“Today we made very big progress and in principle, all the legal articles pertaining to the budget have been finalized,” Khalil said after the session.

“We have started discussing the taxing measures and the amendments and the premier has scheduled three sessions for next week that will start on Monday. According to my estimations, it is possible to finalize the budget during these sessions,” the minister added.

Due to disputes between the rival political parties, Lebanon has not approved a state budget since 2005.