President Joseph Aoun opened the Cabinet session by discussing several key issues, including the 2025 budget, ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and recent regional security developments.

In his opening remarks, President Aoun stressed the importance of closely monitoring government expenditures following the approval of the 2025 budget in the previous session.

"I urge the Minister of Finance to track expenditures using Article 118 of the Public Accounting Law and to present the government with a report on the status of expenses every three months," he said.

Aoun also briefed the Cabinet on his recent meeting with an IMF delegation. The President revealed that a special committee had been formed to address the IMF's concerns. The committee, chaired by the Minister of Finance and including the Minister of Economy, the Acting Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon, two advisors, and the Prime Minister's advisor, Mrs. Lamia Mbayyad, will monitor the key points raised by the Fund.

"The IMF delegation underscored the urgency of reaching an agreement before the summer, following previous discouraging experiences," Aoun explained. "The primary goal is to restore trust in Lebanon, both internally and externally, which requires significant reforms in the economic, banking, and financial sectors."

The President highlighted the IMF's emphasis on the appointment of a new Governor for the Central Bank of Lebanon and the establishment of a unified data center within the Ministry of Finance. Additionally, the delegation stressed the need for the Lebanese Parliament to approve two critical pieces of legislation: an amended Banking Secrecy Law and a law concerning the restructuring of Lebanese banks.

On the regional front, President Aoun addressed the recent developments in Syria, reassuring the Cabinet that Lebanese security services, along with the Ministries of Interior and Defense, are closely monitoring the situation.

"We are maintaining full readiness," he said, emphasizing the government’s commitment to national security.

The President also confirmed the release of five Lebanese detainees held by Israel. Four prisoners were freed yesterday, and the fifth was released today, following indirect negotiations. Aoun noted that the releases represented a significant step in improving bilateral relations and securing the return of Lebanese citizens.