The Finance and Budget Committee, chaired by MP Ibrahim Kanaan, met on Tuesday to continue reviewing state budget draft 2019.
The meeting took place in the presence of Vice Speaker Elie Ferzli, Interior Minister Ali Hassan Khalil, and Interior and Municipalities Minister, Raya El Hassan.
The Committee has approved the budget of the Ministry of the Interior, with some amendments introduced, particularly with regard to Civil Defense volunteers.
He added that 88 billion Lebanese pounds will be allocated to these volunteers in budget 2020 and that a decree will be issued by the government in this regard "after the necessary examinations".
"We will finish reviewing the draft 2019 state budget by early next week," Kanaan said.
He added that all items in the budget on compensation and bonuses will be subject to audit, stressing that austerity does not mean higher taxes, but rather less spending.
"We have held 22 sessions within 15 days," Kanaan said, pointing out that the constitutional deadline for the review and approval of the budget is three months.
"We will finish our work early July and we are working hard to secure revenues and control deficit," he concluded.
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