Nahhas Slams Allies as 'Octopus Seeking to Defend Personal Interests'

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Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas on Thursday said that the cabinet’s rejection on Wednesday of his wage increase plan was “purely political,” describing the Change and Reform bloc’s partners in the government as “an octopus seeking … to defend its personal interests.”

“Yesterday’s decision to reject our plan was purely political because it sided with the approach of counting on outside forces and appeasing certain parties and ambassadors,” Nahhas told OTV.

“It is very lamentable that AMAL and Hizbullah voted against this decree,” he added.

The cabinet on Wednesday voted against Nahhas’ plan and endorsed an alternative decree, under which the minimum wage would be raised from LL500,000 to LL600,000 and employees would be granted a monthly wage increase that does not exceed LL275,000.

“All parties that have been partners for 20 years have stood by each other and we are considering serious opposition,” Nahhas told MTV, slamming his partners in the government.

Asked by LBC television about the decision of Industry Minister Minister Vrej Sabounjian, who was named by the Change and Reform bloc and who voted against his plan, Nahhas said his ally was only concerned about his own financial interests.

It was noteworthy on Thursday that OTV, the mouthpiece of MP Michel Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement, started its evening news bulletin by speaking of “a new five-party coalition” that has allegedly been formed to stand in the face of the FPM’s policies. According to OTV, the hostile coalition comprises “the ally and the ally’s ally” -- in reference to Hizbullah and AMAL Movement -- and the “trio” – President Michel Suleiman, Premier Najib Miqati and Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat.

Comments 3
Missing peace 09 December 2011, 00:17

is that a sample of the reforms your party is supposed to bring? you are mocking and insulting people with the pocket money you generously propose to the workers!

if your party wants real change and reforms you should start by stopping the scandalous privileges the MPs have, the privileges the officers of the army have, the number of MPs in parliament, the civil servants paid for nothing (ex the lebanese railroad ones when we know there isn t any railroad for years!), stop the anarchy of the rents, control the prices instead of letting the law of the jungle and the list could go on...

you would save the country money that you could redistribute to the real working people!

clowns!

Default-user-icon Wisdom (Guest) 09 December 2011, 00:35

@ peace. Kindly read the 33 page project report before you comment ignorantly. I am not a partisan of this party but I happen to be a business person who read the report. Nahas' project will increase the total income of an employee earning minimum wage by 40% while costing business owners 19%. Whereas the current project increases income by 25%, costing also 25% to business owners.
Which one do you prefer, a studied project or a bazaar-style solution??

Default-user-icon NoComments (Guest) 09 December 2011, 02:24

@peace: Can you cure HIV or AIDS virus? i don't think you can, so you think cutting all these privileges from Army commanders or retired generals, or people sitting home and getting monthly salaries? That's impossible , almost half of Lebanon is in the army, or police, or works in the public sector, it's impossible to even try lowering MPs salaries, it's not even a dream. I have never seen anywhere in the world, A general in the army having 10 cars escorting him, I have never seen a director in a police department, having 3 drivers, 1 for his wife, for for him and one for his kids. It's not just bringing these ideas up, but the lebanese people don't want reforms since almost 75% mzabtin 7alon.