​President Aoun: “All state agencies that are supposed to take decisions have been disrupted, so I took the initiative to solve pressing crises and urgent problems”.

President Aoun: “I will be honest with you so that you know that there is an obstruction to every idea, suggestion or initiative, as if what is required is further deterioration of the situation, suffering and torment for the citizens”.

President Aoun: “It was decided to subsidizing fuel by bearing part of the cost to the treasury and to give public sector employees urgent assistance, pending a review of salaries as part of a recovery plan”.

President Aoun: “The government will be formed, in cooperation with the PM-designate, provided that it is able to carry out reforms in the first place and gains the confidence of the parliamentary blocs”.

President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, announced that it was decided to subsidize fuel by bearing part of the cost to the treasury, and to give public sector employees urgent assistance pending a review of salaries, according to the rules, within a comprehensive recovery plan. The President stressed that he will continue to work until solutions are reached, and he will not be affected by auctions or media campaigns, nor will he abandon his duties and responsibilities.

President Aoun saw that all state agencies in which it is supposed to take decisions have been disrupted, and indicated that he took the initiative to solve pressing crises and urgent problems.

“I will be honest with you so that you know that there is an obstruction to every idea, proposal or initiative, as if what is required is more deterioration of the situation, suffering and torment for citizens, and standing in queues of humiliation” President Aoun said.

“The government will be formed, in cooperation between me and the designated Prime Minister, provided that it is able to carry out reforms in the first place and gain the confidence of the parliamentary blocs” the President continued.

Stances of the President came in a speech addressed to the Lebanese, this evening, after the meeting he chaired this evening at Baabda Palace which was devoted to tackle the fuel crisis.

Text:

“My loved ones,

There is nothing easier than auctions and popular speeches. There is also nothing easier than distributing accusations to the right and left, so that the facts are falsified and the real culprits are covered.

Since the fuel crisis began, and I have been calling for a quick and practical solution, so that we do not reach what we have reached, and citizens get lost in front of petrol stations, electricity cuts, and generators stop.

We decided, in a meeting held here in the Presidential Palace, that the fuel subsidy would continue until the end of next September, so that the gradual lifting of subsidies coincides with the issuance of the financing card. We did not spare an effort working on it, including the agreement that took place with Iraq to import fuel, which is supposed to be implemented during the next month.

But what ruined the situation and made the crisis exacerbated was the decision taken by the Governor of the Central Bank to stop subsidies without referring to the government, and before the issuance of the financing card.

Unfortunately, this decision made the fuel crisis worsen more and more with the Governor’s insistence on his position, and his demand for the issuance of legislation covering the exchange of mandatory reserves.

After the Governor’s decision, I requested the holding of an extraordinary session of the Council of Ministers to study the situation, take a decision and find a comprehensive solution, so that each minister bears his responsibility within his jurisdiction. However, the Prime Minister considered that the Council of Ministers does not meet during the caretaker period.

And because the constitution limited the invitation of the Council of Ministers to the Prime Minister, or with his approval in the event that the President of the Republic deems it necessary to call for an exceptional session, the Cabinet did not convene and therefore we were unable to take the appropriate decision.

At that time, I had no choice but to ask the Parliament to take the initiative in addressing this issue.

So I sent a letter to the Parliament explaining all the facts, and asked to discuss them and take the appropriate decision or position. Unfortunately, however, the position of the Parliament in general came without any practical executive steps. The Parliament only called for the formation of a government and the issuance of the financing card, and then lifting subsidies.

Once again, we did not reach a practical result, and I used all my constitutional powers: the Council of Ministers did not convene, the Parliament did not take practical action, and the situation today is as you see.

I wanted to be honest with you about the situation so that you know that there is an obstruction to every idea, suggestion or initiative, as if what is required is a further deterioration of the situation and the suffering and torment of the citizens, and their standing in the queues of humiliation.

I know that practical steps are required, which we must take.

For my part, I consulted with the Prime Minister, and we called for a meeting today at the Baabda Palace, in which it was decided: Subsidizing fuel, with the Lebanese treasury bearing part of the cost, and giving public sector employees urgent social assistance, pending a review of salaries and wages according to the rules, and within a comprehensive recovery plan.

As for the government, it will be formed, God willing, and in cooperation between me and the designated Prime Minister. The basis is for a government to be able to carry out reforms in the first place, and to gain the confidence of the parliamentary blocs.

Finally, I want to assure you that I will continue to work until we reach solutions, and will not be affected by auctions or media campaigns, nor will I abandon my duties and responsibilities.

Unfortunately, all the state apparatus in which it is supposed to take decisions has been disrupted, so I took the initiative to solve pressing crises and urgent problems.

My loved ones, The situation is difficult, but with our solidarity, we are able to gradually reach the desired results.

Long live Lebanon”.​