Here are the highlights of the week:
- Parliament Passes Key Laws, Postpones Beirut Municipality Debate.
- Lebanon and Palestinian Authority Discuss Disarming Militants at Beddawi Camp
- Protests Erupt During Parliament Session
- Iranian Ambassador Summoned Again Over Interference Concerns
- PM Nawaf Salam Meets UAE Officials, Talks Reform and Optimism
1- Parliament approved several laws today, including:
Approval for Lebanon to increase its shares in the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
The session was then adjourned to 6:00 PM. Laws concerning Beirut’s municipality were postponed and referred to a special committee.
MTV reported ongoing efforts to form a unified list for the Beirut municipal elections that would ensure equal power-sharing among different political groups.
The creation of decentralized economic zones focused on tech industries, with some amendments.
Parliament gave Banque du Liban the go-ahead to print new money in larger denominations 500,000 and 5 million-pound notes as part of financial reforms.
The following urgent draft laws were forwarded to specialized parliamentary committees for further study:
- Ban on Money Transfers to Syrian Refugees
A proposal to prohibit transferring money to Syrian refugees inside Lebanon. - Amendment to Commercial Law – Auditors’ Appointment
A proposal to amend Article 172 of Law No. 126 (Commercial Law) related to the appointment of financial auditors. - Amendment to Public Accounting Law
A proposal to modify items 1 and 2 of Article 52 of the Public Accounting Law. - Housing Licenses for Displaced Persons
A proposal to allow housing licenses for those who were displaced and already hold a construction permit. - Temporary Freeze on Non-Residential Rent Law (First Version)
A proposal to suspend the implementation of Law No. 1, published on April 3, 2025, for six monthsuntil a new law is issued regarding non-residential rents. - Temporary Freeze on Non-Residential Rent Law (Second Version)
Another version of the same proposal above—suggesting a six-month suspension of the new non-residential rent law until a replacement is adopted.
2- Discussions are underway between Lebanon and the Palestinian Authority to remove weapons from armed groups in the Beddawi refugee camp in Tripoli. The Lebanese Army set up a security cordon around the camp to help with the process.
3- Retired and active military personnel protested during today’s session, demanding salary increases in the 2025 budget. Meanwhile, inmates at Roumieh Prison also staged a protest, calling for a vote on a draft law aimed at easing overcrowding and improving prison conditions.
4- For the second time, Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was summoned by the Foreign Ministry. Officials reminded him to respect diplomatic rules and avoid interfering in Lebanon’s internal affairs.
5- During his meeting with the Speaker of the UAE Federal National Council, PM Nawaf Salam emphasized Lebanon’s efforts to rebuild trust with Arab nations. He discussed progress on political, economic, and judicial reforms, thanked the UAE for its support and for hosting Lebanese citizens, and expressed optimism for the future including hopes for Emirati tourists returning to Lebanon.
