Parliament OKs Housing Loan Support as LF, Mustaqbal Walk Out

The parliament on Tuesday approved an LBP 100 billion financial support for housing loans meant for low-income citizens in a session that witnessed a walkout by the MPs of the Lebanese Forces and the al-Mustaqbal Movement.

Speaker Nabih Berri adjourned the session after the withdrawal of the lawmakers of the two parties. Sources from Berri's bloc said the session enjoyed a quorum of 67 MPs when the Speaker decided to adjourn it.

The approval of the housing bill was conditional on “the government's preparation of a housing plan within six months,” NNA said.

Explaining the MPs' walkout, LBCI television said the LF had demanded, from outside the agenda, the approval of a credit line for financing cancer and chronic illnesses medications.

At that point, Berri was seeking the approval of two loan treaties to expand Tripoli's port.

“MP Elias Bou Saab insisted on carrying on with the session according to the agenda, which prompted the LF to walk out of the session,” LBCI said.

“Al-Mustaqbal's MPs followed them, which pushed Berri to adjourn the session,” the TV network added.