2026 Budget: There is no clear plan and arranging the numbers in front of the IMF

The Council of Ministers approved a draft budget law 2026 at a record speed, in conjunction with the start of the International Monetary Fund mission to consults with the financial and monetary authorities, in reference to Lebanon’s commitment to the required reform measures, announcing the financial and economic trends and expectations regarding them, and the commitment of the constitutional deadlines, in light of the inability to prepare an economic plan that is still ongoing and has not yet been completed, the Minister of Economy Amer Al -Basta takes its preparation under the title “Road Map” 2026 – 2035.
Sabine Awais wrote in “Al -Nahar”: While the budget was supposed to come in harmony with a government that described itself as reformist and includes faces of specialists and sufficiency, the project did not carry any new reformist direction, but was limited to numbers that seek to endure an achievement by avoiding the financial deficit through the balance between revenues and expenses, and not imposing new taxes and fees, under the pretext of not downloading financial burdens Additional. The largest clause of which is allocated to salaries by about 50 percent, or approximately two billion and 800 million dollars, of which 250 million dollars per month spend on the salaries of the public and military administration, compared to 11 percent for the investment item. On the other hand, the social introductions were very modest, as it allocated about $ 50 million to the “Aman” program. About $ 250 million is allocated to the electricity sector, 257 million for the water sector, and 200 million dollars for the agricultural sector. As for the estimated reconstruction plan, according to the World Bank, by 16 billion, more than $ 18 million has not been allocated to the restoration of about 500 buildings. The government expects to increase its revenues by 18 percent, based on the value -added tax and the tax on corporate profits, although the expectations for the tax on private sector profits recorded a decrease between the budgets of 2025 and 2026 exceeding sixty percent, while it was noted that the project proposes an increase in tax and wages by more than 130 percent. It was noted that the project was included in its board the vacation of the President of the Republic after the Council of Ministers agreed to open exceptional credits. While it is assumed that Lebanon has started serious work on the e -government, and with it the electronic character to combat rampant corruption in the departments, the government trend towards dedicating this reality emerged by restoring consideration to the paper character. The government project does not show any serious intention of a reform process for the budget project. Rather, there is an urgency to accomplish it and refer it to the parliament as a burden that fell on its shoulders, and it was left responsibility for the deputies.