The Finance and Budget Committee, chaired by MP Ibrahim Kanaan, convened on Tuesday to review a proposed supplementary credit of 2,000 billion Lebanese liras to the national budget. The session, held in the presence of Finance Minister Yassine Jaber, Justice Minister Adel Nassar, numerous MPs and representatives from key public institutions, focused on a trio of allocations: support for the Judges’ Solidarity Fund, adjustments to end-of-service indemnities under the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and tax exemptions for victims of recent Israeli attacks.
The most contentious point was the proposal to boost the Magistrates’ Solidarity Fund. Justice Minister Nassar and Judge Fawzi Dagher, the acting head of the fund, emphasized its critical role in shielding judges from the financial toll of Lebanon’s ongoing currency collapse. They argued that the fund is essential for maintaining the judiciary’s independence and dignity in the face of rapidly deteriorating public sector wages.
Still, several MPs raised concerns about the mounting number of requests for additional public funding amid an already strained fiscal landscape. They called for fairer distribution mechanisms and greater budgetary discipline, urging the integration of such spending into the 2025 or 2026 state budget rather than relying on exceptional allocations.
While the ministers insisted that the funding represents a routine annual contribution covering judges’ healthcare and social assistance, lawmakers argued that a more transparent and forward-looking fiscal approach is needed.
With no final decision reached, the committee agreed to reconvene on Wednesday at 11 AM for further deliberations. A vote had been anticipated, but some MPs requested more time for review.
Kanaan underscored the urgency of approving the package, citing its broader implications for social security and compensation for civilians affected by Israeli airstrikes. He also warned against falling back into unsustainable fiscal practices reminiscent of past Treasury advances and called on the Finance Ministry to impose a clear cap on exceptional expenditures.
He further revealed that financial authorities including Banque du Liban would soon be summoned to discuss spending priorities, potential beneficiaries and feasible funding mechanisms with a firm commitment to avoiding additional burdens on Lebanese citizens.
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