Miqati Hopes Settlement of Spending Crisis Would Reflect Positively on Appointments

Premier Najib Miqati hoped on Friday that the cabinet’s ability to overcome the spending crisis would also materialize in the appointment of civil servants to different positions in state institutions.

During a session held under President Michel Suleiman at Baabda Palace on Thursday, the cabinet approved an urgent draft law to allocate LL10.394 billion in treasury bills to cover the expenses of institutions for 2012.

It also approved a treasury loan of LL150 billion to finance the implementation of development projects in the northern city of Tripoli and of LL450 billion for projects in other parts of the country.

The atmosphere during the session was “very positive,” Miqati told As Safir newspaper on Friday.

“We hope what happed during the council of ministers session today (Thursday) would be a good sign and a preamble to productive cabinet sessions,” he said.

Miqati expected the activation of the government’s work and the launching of development projects in the North and the rest of Lebanese areas.

The prime minister also hoped that the settlement of the extra-budgetary crisis and the adoption of treasury loans to finance development projects would reflect positively on the administrative and judicial appointments in the next sessions.

The cabinet overcame its paralysis on Thursday following an agreement reached by the March 8 majority coalition ministers, President Michel Suleiman and Miqati.

Finance Minister Mohammed Safadi would now finalize the draft law to approve the LL10.394 billion and present it in the next cabinet session that is scheduled to take place on Tuesday and Wednesday to continue discussions on the 2012 draft state budget.

After the cabinet’s approval, the draft proposal will be referred to parliament for the final green light.

A source expected in remarks to An Nahar daily for Speaker Nabih Berri to invite for an extraordinary parliamentary session to refer the draft law to the joint committees before sending it to the assembly.

This could take weeks, they said.