The new Lebanese government, formed after 13 months of vacuum, held its first meeting on Monday (September 13th) to address the colossal tasks that await it in a country in the midst of economic collapse for two years.
The session began at 11:00 am (08:00 GMT) at the presidential palace, in the presence of President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
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The government has formed a committee to draft the ministerial declaration, which will then be presented to parliament during the vote of confidence in the new government, the national news agency (ANI) said.
Lebanon was without a new government since the resignation of the cabinet of Hassan Diab in the wake of the devastating explosion at the port of Beirut on August 4, 2020. This delay worsened the economic crisis, described by the World Bank as one of the worst in the world. world since 1850.
Among the countless challenges, the new government will have to quickly reach an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), an essential step for a way out of the crisis.
"
I hope that the ministerial committee will ensure that the ministerial declaration includes the continuation of negotiations with the IMF,
" Michel Aoun said on Monday.
Short of foreign currency and defaulting on debt, the country has for months experienced severe shortages of fuel, medicine and power affecting all aspects of daily life.
$ 1.1 billion in aid
On Monday, the Ministry of Finance announced that it had been informed by the IMF of the payment on September 16 of aid of more than $ 1.1 billion in special drawing rights - as part of an aid granted by the Fund to several countries to deal with the economic fallout from the pandemic.
This international asset will be deposited in a special account of the Banque du Liban (BDL), whose dollar reserves have melted since the start of the crisis.
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The gradual lifting of subsidies by the BDL in recent months has not helped to eliminate the multiple shortages, including the current rationed today up to more than 22 hours a day. The district generators, which generally take over, also ration, fuel oil having become expensive and rare currency. "
We will get down to resolving the issue of (shortages) of fuels and drugs to stop the humiliation
" of the Lebanese, Najib Mikati promised Monday.