“The 2020 budget would suffer the same problems with regard to the size of the public debt and electricity deficit,” Bassil explained

BASSIL After ‘Strong Lebanon’ Bloc’s Extraordinary Meeting: We Will Vote in Favor of Budget

15 Jul 2019

NNA - Head of the "Free Patriotic Movement", Foreign Minister, Gebran Bassil, on Monday said in the wake of the “Strong Lebanon” Parliamentary bloc meeting that Prime Minister, Saad Hariri, preferred finding a political solution to the incident shook Qabershmoun region before holding a cabinet session.  

"We have not disrupted the last cabinet session, and we have no intention of disrupting future government meetings,” Bassil affirmed.  

He explained that today’s meeting had been dedicated to conducting a comprehensive review on the state budget to determine the bloc’s position.  

“Today we reviewed the budget and our position is clear; despite our dissatisfaction concerning some budget items, we will vote in its favor. We must get over and done with this budget, despite its negative and positive aspects, and move on to discuss the 2020 budget,” Bassil said, expressing full awareness that the 2019 state budget was not the lengthily sought solution to the country’s ailing economic situation.  

The Minister added that the 2020 state budget discussions began in September, 2019, and must be completed within the constitutional deadlines.

 “The 2020 budget would suffer the same problems with regard to the size of the public debt and electricity deficit,” Bassil explained, hoping, however, not to miss the opportunity of reform within the 2020 budget.