Beirut: The Parliamentary Finance and Budget Committee on Tuesday held a session chaired by MP Ibrahim Kanaan to review the budgets of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Social Affairs, and Information within the 2026 draft budget, in the presence of Information Minister Paul Morcos, Social Affairs Minister Haneen El-Sayed, MPs, and senior officials.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, following the session, Kanaan announced that the budgets were approved with several items suspended at the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Social Affairs. He highlighted extended discussions on economic attach©s, requesting detailed reports from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Economy before final budget approval, underscoring the importance of their role in promoting Lebanon's economy.
The committee also decided to suspend the ESCWA building rental item due to a noted significant increase, while expressing a desire for the organization to stay in Beirut. Additionally, discussions focused on the role of public media institutions, the rights of their employees, social programs, and the issue of unpaid salaries at social service centers. A deadline of 15 January 2026 was set to resolve these issues.