Kanaan: Wage Scale Endorsement a Political Decision

Change and Reform MP Ibrahim Kanaan stressed on Tuesday that approving the long-stalled wage scale without making the necessary reforms is a deception, stressing that the decision to approve it is political, the National News Agency reported.

“Approving the wage scale without introducing the needed reforms is an attempt to cheat the people and burden them with the policies of squandering and corruption,” said Kanaan.

“The tripartite meeting I held with (Finance) Ministers Ali Hassan Khalil and (Telecommunications) Jamal Jarrah was devoted to legal and technical discussions on the state budget. We made a progress, yet the implementation is up to the political parties, whereas the approval of the wage scale happens at the parliament. Experience has taught us that the decision on the salary scale is a political one,” Kanaan said in an interview on NBN channel.

Furthermore, the lawmaker stressed that President Michel Aoun was determined to make reforms, as promised by the new tenure.

On the parliamentary electoral law, Kanaan said that Aoun would spare no effort to reach a new vote that guarantees proper representation.

Reiterating backing for the Orthodox Gathering proposal, Kanaan said: “We still back the Orthodox proposal, but we do not refuse any other suggestions.”

He concluded saying: “The 1960 law is worse than extending the parliament's mandate and vacuum, and it threatens stability.”