budget

Cabinet Approves 2026 Budget Without Salary Adjustments

The Council of Ministers approved the draft 2026 state budget Monday evening, with officials emphasizing fiscal discipline, revenue compliance and accountability. Information Minister Paul Morcos stated that the budget includes no new broad-based taxes, relying instead on stricter enforcement of existing laws and improved revenue estimation. One ...

Budget 2026: Balancing Fiscal Discipline and Social Promises in Lebanon

The Council of Ministers resumed discussions on the 2026 draft budget on Friday, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. Ministers who had not yet reviewed the funds allocated to their portfolios presented their remarks, including the Ministers of Environment and Tourism. Debate also centered on several articles left unresolved in ...

2026 Budget Law Draft: Cabinet to Meet Again on ‘Thursday or Friday’

Information Minister Paul Morcos said on Wednesday that the 2026 budget law draft will be completed on Thursday or Friday after the cabinet convenes to review it. “The government is examining the budget realistically, and we are working to secure revenues to meet the needs of the administrative corps, which has salaries and legitimate ...

Cabinet Tasks Interior Minister to Relay Electoral Law Flaws

The Cabinet agreed to task Minister of Interior Ahmad al-Hajjar with relaying to Parliament the government’s concerns over ambiguities in the electoral law to allow next year’s parliamentary elections to proceed without legal challenges. The decision was taken during a Cabinet session convened on Tuesday at the Grand Serail under the ...

Big Beautiful Bill: America’s Divisive Tax Overhaul

Passed by the US Senate last Tuesday by a majority of 51 votes to 50, thanks to the decisive vote of Vice President J.D. Vance, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), nicknamed the “Big Beautiful Bill” (BBB), is currently the most ambitious and polarizing budget bill championed by Donald Trump since his return to the political ...

Public Sector Crisis: The Finance Minister’s Last Straw

Tensions are mounting in the deserted halls of Lebanon’s public administrations. A single decision by the Ministry of Finance on May 15 was enough to trigger an immediate call for a strike. But beyond the standoff over working hours, deeper issues are surfacing—highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive reform of the public sector amid a ...

Stocks Rally on Hopes of Chinese Stimulus and Tariff Relief

Markets rallied on Wednesday as investors welcomed China's economic targets and a U.S. official signaled that President Donald Trump could dial down tariffs on Canada and Mexico. Global stocks had tumbled on Tuesday after China, Mexico, and Canada retaliated against U.S. tariffs, and fears grew that Europe could be Trump's next target. There was ...

Government in Overdrive: A Prioritized Agenda

On Wednesday, February 26, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam reaffirmed his strong commitment to the new Cabinet’s agenda. “When we say we want something, it’s not a mere wish or request, but a firm pledge,” he emphasized before parliamentarians, after his government secured their confidence with 95 votes. He clarified that “the government’s ...

DOGE: A Controversial Revolution in American Administration

The DOGE, Department of Government Efficiency, is a new initiative launched by US President Donald Trump. Led by Elon Musk, this advisory body aims to significantly reduce public spending and reform the US federal administration. Presented as a revolution in government management, the DOGE generates both enthusiasm and questions regarding its ...

Budget 2025: A Review of the Figures

In the absence of a miraculous diplomatic breakthrough, there are fears that the war between Israel and Hezbollah will continue into next year, according to several reliable sources. In this scenario, economic forecasts project a GDP of $12 billion for 2025—well below that of Gaza and the West Bank. With such a figure, achieving the projected ...