"We are in a crucial phase, and as politicians we need to listen to the voice of people throughout the country and the raised demands in various Lebanese areas," Industry Minister Wael Abou Faour said in a speech after meeting Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Sunday afternoon.
Abou Faour said they held a round of deliberations with House Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Saad Hariri and a number of components.
Referring to PM Hariri’s reform paper, Abou Faour deemed it “advanced, radical and truly reformist,” noting that they proposed some valuable, quality additions to it on behalf of the Progressive Socialist Party Chief.
"These measures are introductory reforms, if taken, they constitute an incentive for us as a Progressive Socialist Party to stay in the government…Our persistence in the government is conditional on the implementation of these reforms," Abou Faour emphasized.
“We demanded the abolition of some funds, bodies and budgets of cabinet ministries and the prosecution of aggressors on marine and river properties,” he added.
Abou Faour called for closing several needless embassies and consulates in various countries, and the appointment of a governing body and a board of directors at the Lebanese Electricity Company during the first cabinet session to be held in the upcoming period.
“We asked to cancel all the privileges of presidents, MPs, ministers, employees and government officials, and proposed to stop all forms of waste and corruption in tenders and cancel all councils and funds, especially the Displaced Fund and the Council for Development and Reconstruction and the Higher Relief Council," he maintained.
Abou Faour also called for "creating job opportunities for the Lebanese youth, supporting the Lebanese industry and stopping the overflow of imported goods into the Lebanese market."
He highlighted as well the need to “close all illegal crossings, put an end to tax evasion, and support the Lebanese University, its budget and faculty body.”
TWEET YOUR COMMENT