October 3, 2026
The Lebanese Council of Ministers, during a lengthy session held in the Grand Serail headed by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, in the presence of ministers and in the absence of Foreign Minister Youssef Raji, approved a package of economic, financial and administrative decisions, taking additional steps to approve the general budget amid recording ministerial reservations and objections.
At the beginning of the session, which lasted until seven in the evening, the Prime Minister presented the results of his official visit to the United States and the United Nations, which included meetings with the heads of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, in addition to discussing the file after the end of the UNIFIL mandate. Finance Minister Yassin Jaber provided information on the technical aspects of these files, expressing his aspiration for upcoming visits by international institutions to Lebanon to complement the proposed projects.
In financial and legislative matters, the Council of Ministers completed the study of the articles of the draft general budget law and approved them to refer them to the constitutional references in preparation for submitting them to the House of Representatives within the specified deadlines, thus recording the government’s respect for the constitutional deadlines for the second year in a row. On the other hand, ministerial objections and reservations were recorded on some items. The ministers of the “Lebanese Forces” submitted an objection paper for not responding to all their demands, and the Minister of Justice declined to agree, while the Minister of Health registered his reservations, with each minister announcing the reasons for his reservations later.
The Council also approved a draft law to open an additional allocation in the 2026 budget amounting to 1,450 billion and 800 million liras, allocated to support public drivers to transport passengers for a period of three months to confront the rise in fuel prices. In the social context, a decree was approved amending family compensation to take effect as of March 1, 2026, so that the value of the compensation becomes 2,100,000 liras for the husband or wife, and 1,160,000 liras for each dependent child, provided that the total does not exceed 5,800,000 liras, provided that the differences due for the period from March to September are paid monthly in conjunction with the salaries, as of October 1. 2026.
In the transportation sector, it was approved to amend the daily allowance for attending work centers so that the employer will bear an allowance equivalent to the value of 5 liters of gasoline per day, by calculating the average official price of a can of gasoline, with a maximum ceiling not to exceed 800 thousand liras and a minimum of not less than 500 thousand liras.
At the energy and infrastructure sector level, the Council approved the project to convert liquefied natural gas into natural gas (FSRU) in the Deir Ammar region in partnership between the public and private sectors. It also approved the project to establish the Supreme Council for Special Economic Zones and Technological Industries. In the health sector, a decree was approved to abolish a number of positions within the Ministry of Public Health as part of the government’s reform measures.
Regarding the security and logistical file, the Council of Ministers approved the letter addressed to support the Lebanese Army, the Internal Security Forces, and the European Mission (CSDP), explaining that it relates to a purely technical agreement and logistical support, and has no connection to the international forces or the post-UNIFIL phase, but rather is integrated with the international observer body, provided that any subsequent correspondence is presented to the Council of Ministers in accordance with the rules.
In conclusion, Information Minister Paul Morcos, who announced the official decisions, indicated preparations for expected government visits to the city of Nabatieh and the south in general to achieve tangible results for the benefit of the region.
