Govt. Forms Corruption Panel, Fails to Approve 'Fine Exemptions'

The Council of Ministers on Thursday formed a ministerial panel tasked with devising a “national strategy for combating corruption,” as it failed to reach an agreement over fine exemptions for certain firms.

At the beginning of the session which had 26 items on its agenda, Prime Minister Saad Hariri said “it is unacceptable to leak the Cabinet's agenda and discuss it through the media before it reaches the Council of Ministers.”

“Most of the agenda was approved and some items were postponed for further assessment, most importantly the issue of exemption from financial fines,” Information Minister Jamal al-Jarrah said after the session.

He also clarified that “the issue is not about exempting companies or firms from certain fees but rather from fines, as happens upon the approval of all state budgets.”

“The atmosphere was very good and most items were passed amid a calm debate,” Jarrah went on to say.

Asked whether the Cabinet might hold a session over the electricity file on Friday, the minister said “there is a possibility” if the electricity ministerial panel finalizes the plan later on Thursday.