Beirut: Kataeb Party leader MP Samy Gemayel has called on Parliament to fulfill its responsibilities by passing the much-anticipated decentralization law, which he described as a pivotal opportunity for significant reforms in Lebanon. Gemayel believes that implementing the law would redirect political competition from sectarian power struggles to a focus on regional development, aiming to enhance the quality of life for citizens.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, Gemayel emphasized the importance of decentralization during the third "Renewal for the Nation" participatory conference, themed "Decentralization: The Time Has Come." He noted that the parliamentary subcommittee had conducted 76 working sessions, reaching a consensus on the majority of the law's articles among various political factions. Gemayel highlighted that the remaining hurdle is a matter of political will.
Gemayel outlined that effective decentralization mandates the establishment of elected local councils with both administrative and financial autonomy. He recalled the Kataeb Party's earlier initiative in 2010, which involved proposing a draft municipal law, followed by the development of a decentralization bill in cooperation with a committee led by then-President Michel Sleiman.
He further criticized the current municipal decentralization framework as inadequate for achieving balanced regional development. Gemayel underscored the necessity of redistributing tax revenues to support less developed areas, which he argued would lead to more equitable growth throughout all regions of Lebanon.