A parliamentary session on Wednesday lost the legal quorum when the government submitted a request to earmark LBP1,200 billion (USD 800 million based on the official exchange rate) for a social aid plan.
Meanwhile, parallel criticism by the government and the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) targeted the governor of Banque du Liban, Riad Salameh, over recent decisions pertaining to withdrawals.
“There should be more coordination by the Central Bank (BDL) with the government,” Diab said, at the end of the session.
Commenting on a recent BDL circular regarding LBP withdrawals from USD accounts, the prime minister said: “The government was not informed about this… The central bank does not coordinate with the executive authority on the decisions it issues, and I will have a say on that after the cabinet session on Friday.”
In remarks, Former Minister and FPM Leader Gebran Bassil asked: “How can the central bank issue circulars that lead to the collapse of the LBP exchange rate (against the USD)?”
Diab noted that the political attack on the government was expected, hoping that it would not affect social and food security.
He expressed regret over the postponement of discussions on the social aid plan due to lack of quorum.
“The LBP1,200 billion loan is in the form of bonds. The issue was postponed because quorum was lost,” he said.
Wednesday’s session also witnessed a sharp debate over a draft law to take ministers to trial at ordinary courts.
Al-Mustaqbal bloc deputies underlined the need to achieve the judiciary’s independence before passing this bill.
“There are those who want to blame one political party for all the crises in the country and want to hold Rafik Hariri accountable in his grave… We demand a law that defines the responsibilities and guarantees an independent judiciary,” al-Mustaqbal MP Mohammed al-Hajjar remarked.
