Lebanon’s Cabinet approved a draft 2027 budget on Thursday and agreed to raise transportation allowances for public-sector employees to cover the equivalent of five liters of gasoline per working day.

The allowance will range from 500,000 Lebanese pounds to 800,000 pounds, depending on the number of working days, Information Minister Paul Morcos said.

The Cabinet also approved the abolition of some positions at the Ministry of Public Health as part of government reforms, as well as a draft law supporting public-transport drivers and amending family allowances.

It also approved a proposal to establish a Higher Council for Special Economic Zones and Technology Industries.

Morcos said the Lebanese Forces ministers objected to the 2027 budget, while both the justice and health ministers expressed reservations.

Speaking before the session, Energy Minister Joe Saddi said he would push for the abolition of a 300,000-pound charge imposed on a gasoline canister.

Economy Minister Amer Bisat, meanwhile, said he would listen to discussions over a possible suspension of the gasoline tax but stressed the need to protect public finances.

“I’ll listen to the discussion, but our priority has to be the state’s finances. If we don’t have the money, who’s going to pay salaries?” Bisat said. “Fiscal balance is non-negotiable. We cannot create a deficit.”

Al-Qard Al-Hasan case

The Cabinet session also came as officials addressed questions surrounding Al-Qard Al-Hasan, a financial institution affiliated with Hezbollah.

Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar told MTV that the case was following a judicial process initiated after Justice Minister Adel Nassar referred the matter to the public prosecutor at the Court of Cassation.

“The case is now following a judicial path that began with the justice minister’s request to the public prosecutor at the Court of Cassation,” Hajjar said. “We’re waiting for the judiciary to reach its conclusions, and then the Interior Ministry will take the appropriate position based on those findings.”

For his part, Justice Minister Adel Nassar said he would not comment on the Al-Qard Al-Hasan case while the government was calling for judicial independence, noting that the file remains before the public prosecutor at the Court of Cassation.

“As long as we’re calling for an independent judiciary, we cannot comment on the Al-Qard Al-Hasan case while it is before the public prosecutor at the Court of Cassation,” Nassar said.