Kheireddine Criticizes Nahhas, Says Ministers Should Abide by Cabinet Decisions

State Minister Marwan Kheireddine stressed on Wednesday that the cabinet shouldn’t paralyze the country because of disputes among its members or over a signature, criticizing Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas’ firm stance on the transportation allowance decree.

“Prime Minister (Najib Miqati) was clear that (Nahhas) should sign the decree,” Kheireddine told reporters after holding a meeting with Miqati at the Grand Serail.

The two officials also discussed the proper mechanism to organize the cabinet’s work.

In January, the cabinet approved a wage hike decree while the transportation and education allowances remain the contention point as Nahhas was tasked by the government to prepare a draft law and refer it to the parliament for adoption, allowing the government to set the minimum rates for transportation and education allowances, thus “legalizing” them.

Asked about the five alternatives that Miqati gave Nahhas, Kheireddine said there’s “one choice which is to agree with the Labor Minister to sign the decree in order to resolve this crisis.”

The state minister ruled out the possibility of forcing Nahhas to resign, saying: “If the issue was put up to vote, then it will collapse politically same as the option of changing his portfolio.”

An Nahar newspaper reported on Wednesday that Miqati proposed five options before Nahhas, the first is to sign the transportation and education allowances thus averting a crisis, or travel abroad so that caretaker labor minister Nicolas Fattoush signs them.

The third option according the daily is Nahhas’ approval to change portfolios, or he should submit his resignation.

Miqati threatened that if Nahhas refuses any of these options, he will submit his resignation as head of the cabinet.

“It is not logical that any minister abstains from implementing the cabinet’s decisions. Only the Shura Council can do that if the (government’s decision) was contested,” Kheireddine stressed.

However, Nahhas argues that the transportation allowance decree is “illegal,” and refuses to sign it.