Heated Arguments in Cabinet, Discussions Resume on Tuesday
The government on Tuesday will resume discussion of the state budget bill for fiscal 2009, a day after a cabinet session witnessed heated arguments on electricity, the health ministry”s budget, the Council of the South and the Central Fund for the Displaced.
An Nahar daily said that Health Minister Mohammad Jawad Khalifeh expressed reservations on the draft budget because it failed to allocate more funds for the health ministry.
As for discussions on the power crisis, a Cabinet member told An Nahar that an argument broke out with Energy Minister Alain Tabourian over a suggestion to increase electricity tariffs.
As Safir daily said Finance Minister Mohammed Shatah suggested increased tariffs but Tabourian refused claiming fuel prices are decreasing worldwide.
The newspaper said the issue will be discussed again in Tuesday”s session.
Minister of Administrative Reform Ibrahim Shamseddine, according to An Nahar, brought up the issue of the Central Fund for the Displaced and the Council of the South, asking when they will be cancelled since the budget bill does not mention them.