Constitutional Council Annulls Article 49 of State Budget

The Constitutional Council on Monday annulled 7 Articles of the state budget including Article 49 which grants residence permits to foreign property owners.

Said articles were appealed by Kataeb chief MP Sami Gemayel and nine other MPs late in April.

Judge Tarek Ziadeh, who spoke to reporters after a reported four-hour council meeting, assured that the annulment does not affect the state budget, however he stressed that it was “binding.”

Article 49 of the state budget stipulates granting residence permits to every Arab or foreign who buys a housing unit in Lebanon.

A group of mainly Kataeb lawmakers led by Kataeb chief MP Sami Gemayel lodged an appeal late in April before the Constitutional Council to challenge the article.