Addition of Controversial Item on Cabinet Agenda Puts Session under Threat

The cabinet is likely to approve a draft-law on the long-awaited salary scale on Thursday during a key session that will surely witness a heated debate over two other controversial items on its agenda linked to the parliamentary elections this June.

The new salary scale for the public sector draft that is tied to an increase in working hours and a tax hike on luxury goods in 19 articles linked to funding sources is expected to be approved by the cabinet during its session at Baabda palace.

But the addition of a third item on the agenda will likely exacerbate the tension between the centrists and the Hizbullah-led March 8 alliance.

The cabinet's agenda had initially two items - The wage hike and a review by a justice ministry committee on the legality of the establishment of the authority that will supervise the elections – but a request by the interior ministry linked to the second item to name the candidates and find a base for the authority threatened to take the dispute on the polls out of proportions.

March 8 rejects the formation of the authority for fears that it would lead to holding the polls based on the 1960 law, which it opposes.

But President Michel Suleiman argues that the body should be established in line with the constitutional deadline given that rival parties have so far failed to agree on a new electoral draft-law.

The cabinet will study the report by the justice ministry's Higher Committee for Consultations, whose majority members have allegedly disapproved the formation of the authority based on the 1960 law that was used in the 2009 polls with some amendments.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati chaired a meeting at the Grand Serail on Wednesday to avert a showdown during the cabinet session.

The meeting was attended by Ministers Mohammed Fneish, Ali Hassan Khalil and Nicolas Nahhas, An Nahar daily reported on Thursday.

Sources close to the March 8 majority alliance told As Safir that the coalition was holding onto its stance of rejecting the formation of the authority that will oversee the elections.

But Interior Minister Marwan Charbel sought to appease its fears that the polls will be held in accordance with the 1960 law that considers the qada an electoral district and is based on the winner-takes-all system.

“The presence of the authority is necessary no matter which electoral law was adopted,” he told As Safir.

“There are several ways to destroy” the 1960 law “without obstructing the formation of the authority,” Charbel said.

Lebanon's rival leaders have so far failed to agree on a new vote law although the interior ministry has set the elections for June 9 and opened the door for the announcement of candidacies.