Parliament on Thursday approved seven government-referred draft laws during a session that continued a previous sitting, most notably a loan agreement with the World Bank for Reconstruction and Development to implement the Emergency Assistance Project for Lebanon, aimed at rehabilitating infrastructure damaged by the war.
The session also endorsed several international agreements, approved the law returned by the President of the Republic concerning the organization of the ordinary judiciary, and passed the draft Integrated Solid Waste Management Law.
Quorum was secured with the attendance of the parliamentary blocs of Development and Liberation, Strong Lebanon, National Moderation, Loyalty to the Resistance, along with a number of independent MPs.
Following the votes, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri adjourned the session. The minutes were ratified together with those of the previous sitting, rendering all approved laws enforceable.
Speaker Berri opened the session at 11:15 a.m. in the presence of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, several ministers, and members of parliament. At the outset, he called for a two-minute moment of silence in memory of late MP Ghassan Skaff and former MP Zaher Al-Khatib.
During the session:
MP Melhem Khalaf called for the Cyprus agreement to be studied in Parliament, urged political de-escalation, and requested placing the electoral law on the agenda.
MP Gebran Bassil raised concerns regarding recent decisions by the Court of Audit and the parliamentary investigation committee related to the telecommunications sector.
MP Bilal Abdallah urged the government to address public sector challenges and accelerate solutions.
Parliament then reviewed the draft law approving the loan agreement between Lebanon and the World Bank for the Emergency Assistance Project.
Finance Minister Yassine Jaber said the project forms part of a broader reconstruction framework, noting that the fund’s initial allocation stands at $250 million and includes the establishment of a reconstruction committee.
MP Ali Hassan Khalil stressed that the project does not constitute comprehensive reconstruction but focuses on rehabilitating infrastructure damaged by the aggression, calling on the government to develop and approve a full reconstruction plan. The draft law was subsequently approved.
Parliament also approved:
A draft law repealing Law No. 614 (2004) authorizing an agreement with Sudan to avoid double taxation and prevent tax evasion.
Decree No. 1105, the law returned by the President concerning the organization of the ordinary judiciary.
A draft law approving a World Bank loan for the Second Beirut Water Supply Project.
A draft law approving a loan agreement and amendment related to the Public Financial Management Project.
A draft law approving Lebanon’s accession to the Patent Cooperation Treaty.
Lawmakers then debated amendments to Law No. 80 (2018) concerning funding sources for integrated solid waste management. Several MPs raised legal, financial, and administrative concerns, with some calling for the draft to be returned to the Environment Committee, while others supported proceeding with the law as a necessary first step.
Speaker Berri initially referred the matter back to committees, but following further debate, amendments related to environmentally sound waste collection and transport within municipal boundaries were put to a vote, approved, and the draft law was ratified.
When discussion turned to a proposal to include contracted employees at the Ministry of Information in the retirement system, MPs began leaving the chamber, causing a loss of quorum. Speaker Berri then adjourned the session, after which the minutes were read and approved.
The session also endorsed several international agreements, approved the law returned by the President of the Republic concerning the organization of the ordinary judiciary, and passed the draft Integrated Solid Waste Management Law.
Quorum was secured with the attendance of the parliamentary blocs of Development and Liberation, Strong Lebanon, National Moderation, Loyalty to the Resistance, along with a number of independent MPs.
Following the votes, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri adjourned the session. The minutes were ratified together with those of the previous sitting, rendering all approved laws enforceable.
Speaker Berri opened the session at 11:15 a.m. in the presence of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, several ministers, and members of parliament. At the outset, he called for a two-minute moment of silence in memory of late MP Ghassan Skaff and former MP Zaher Al-Khatib.
During the session:
MP Melhem Khalaf called for the Cyprus agreement to be studied in Parliament, urged political de-escalation, and requested placing the electoral law on the agenda.
MP Gebran Bassil raised concerns regarding recent decisions by the Court of Audit and the parliamentary investigation committee related to the telecommunications sector.
MP Bilal Abdallah urged the government to address public sector challenges and accelerate solutions.
Parliament then reviewed the draft law approving the loan agreement between Lebanon and the World Bank for the Emergency Assistance Project.
Finance Minister Yassine Jaber said the project forms part of a broader reconstruction framework, noting that the fund’s initial allocation stands at $250 million and includes the establishment of a reconstruction committee.
MP Ali Hassan Khalil stressed that the project does not constitute comprehensive reconstruction but focuses on rehabilitating infrastructure damaged by the aggression, calling on the government to develop and approve a full reconstruction plan. The draft law was subsequently approved.
Parliament also approved:
A draft law repealing Law No. 614 (2004) authorizing an agreement with Sudan to avoid double taxation and prevent tax evasion.
Decree No. 1105, the law returned by the President concerning the organization of the ordinary judiciary.
A draft law approving a World Bank loan for the Second Beirut Water Supply Project.
A draft law approving a loan agreement and amendment related to the Public Financial Management Project.
A draft law approving Lebanon’s accession to the Patent Cooperation Treaty.
Lawmakers then debated amendments to Law No. 80 (2018) concerning funding sources for integrated solid waste management. Several MPs raised legal, financial, and administrative concerns, with some calling for the draft to be returned to the Environment Committee, while others supported proceeding with the law as a necessary first step.
Speaker Berri initially referred the matter back to committees, but following further debate, amendments related to environmentally sound waste collection and transport within municipal boundaries were put to a vote, approved, and the draft law was ratified.
When discussion turned to a proposal to include contracted employees at the Ministry of Information in the retirement system, MPs began leaving the chamber, causing a loss of quorum. Speaker Berri then adjourned the session, after which the minutes were read and approved.
