Hariri from Parliament: A new draft electoral law soon

Prime Minister Saad Hariri replied this evening to the comments made by the members of Parliament during the two-day session dedicated to evaluate the Cabinet action, a statement by Hariri's press office indicated on Friday. 
These are the main points he developed:
"I thank parliament and the members of parliament for their questions and comments and I will directly answer the most important issues that were raised.
First: The electoral law: We confirm the responsibility of the government to achieve a new law and spare the country the extension of Parliament's term and the risks of vacuum. My bet is to return to parliament in a short time to discuss a draft law that all components would agree on. We are all minorities in Lebanon and what protects us is our national unity. I know that all political parties want to reach an agreement on the electoral law.
Second: The budget: The budget will soon be submitted to parliament to be discussed and the government will be ready to discuss every clause and answer all the questions. On this occasion, I reiterate the government's desire to approve the ranks and salaries scale as soon as possible. And to all the MPs who are announcing their rejection of any new taxes, I already said that the budget imposes no taxes on the low income class and I am against any such taxes. Those who have a realistic plan to finance the salaries without taxes, let them submit it, otherwise let us stop the controversy.
Third: The banks: We heard some colleagues attacking the banks. Away from the political reasons behind this campaign, it is important to emphasize the duties of the banks towards the state. But I ask everyone not to forget the role of banks in the national economy. The banking sector in Lebanon is a symbol of growth, prosperity and monetary stability and the sector should not be demonized. I am fully confident that the sector will not fall back from its historic role in supporting the economy.
Fourth: The judiciary:
The appointments in the most prominent positions (the head of the Judicial inspection, government commissioner) have been completed and we are finally able to have judicial transfers. The judiciary is fine and is fighting corruption. To generalize about corruption without any evidence would negatively affect investment at a time when we need to reassure the investors and the donor countries that we are a country that has accountability and an efficient judiciary. 
Fifth: Electricity: The government has a plan for new power plants with a capacity of 700 megawatts financed from the Lebanese treasury and new power plants financed by the private sector with a capacity of 1500 
Megawatts, the completion of Deir Ammar 2 power plant, the transition to natural gas and the utilization of renewable resources, from wind, sun and water. All this would need at least four years. 
Meanwhile, we want to provide electricity for the citizens immediately and let them save 45% of the monthly bill they are paying for the generator. That is why we have to depend temporarily on the floating power plants.
MP Samy Gemayel mentioned a paper today, and I ask all ministers: Did any of you know about it when the electricity plan was presented to the Cabinet? No, so why talk about things that don't exist.
Sixth: Oil: Lebanon enjoys an excellent system of oil sector governance with the testimony of several countries that preceded us and the international agencies concerned with the framework of governance and transparency in the oil sector. We are the only government in the world that announced its intention to join the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative even before starting exploration and production.
The government adopted the principle of participation in production and there was no talk about profit sharing whatsoever in the law, the book of condition or the contract model and these are all published in the official gazette and on the official website of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and of the Lebanese Petroleum Administration. There is no secret clause in this issue.
The government is preparing through the Ministry of Energy and Water and the Ministry of Finance a draft law to establish the sovereign fund and this will be sent to parliament as soon as it is done in order to complete the legislative framework of the oil and gas sector. Finally, the government has been informed of the remarks of the members of parliament regarding the organizing body, the board of directors of Electricite du Liban and the general manager and will work on ending the vacuum and making the necessary appointments. 
Seventh: On the topic of communications: The Fiber Optics project was put into active service and this contributed to launch the 4G. A tender for the modernization of the stations was launched to secure an additional 500 thousand landlines for citizens. A draft decree was prepared, to reduce internet services fees between 20 and 50 per cent. The Ministry of Communications transferred about $ 500 million to the Ministry of Finance to date. Soon, the cabinet will examine new terms and conditions for the management of mobile companies. A large number of projects that serve the citizen are being prepared and we will announce them in due time.
Eighth: About the acquisition of a plot in Riad El Solh Square by the Ministry of Culture: There are archaeological vestiges on this plot, probably the "Romanian Law School", The problem is more than 12 years old and has caused a problem with Kuwait. The solution was for the benefit of the two countries, and for the protection of private property and investment in Lebanon.
Ninth: Concerning UNDP
I would like to clarify some of the mistakes said in the session. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is one of several UN agencies, which have a total expenditure of $ 1 billion per year in Lebanon. 
The UNDP employs 341 people in Lebanon, of whom only 7 are foreigners and 334 are Lebanese. They are all qualified and experienced and many are expatriates who have been re-recruited to Lebanon thanks to the program. 
The total expenditure of UNDP in Lebanon last year was 71 million dollars, of which 53 million dollars came from donor countries and the budget of the United Nations. For every dollar spent by the Lebanese state on UNDP, 4 dollars come to Lebanon from abroad. Most of the program's staff in consultative capacity with ministries and public institutions play a key role in attracting financial aid to Lebanon. The UNDP consultants working for IDAL have also attracted $ 750 million in investments over the last five years.
Tenth: About corruption. The government fights corruption, and its intention is to fight corruption more, in all ways: through the judiciary, through improving productivity in the public sector, through control, previous and subsequent.
If you want to help fight corruption, do not say that a minister's signature can be bought at $ 1 million. Name him! Prove it. Because if you do not know the minister, and you do not have evidence, you are protecting the real corrupt person, by generalizing. And more important, you are harming the image of your country and your state, before the Lebanese, the Arabs and the world, at a time when Lebanon needs every milligram of additional confidence it can regain from them.
I wanted to clarify some points, but on behalf of the government combined, I would like to say that we benefited a lot from the positive remarks of the MPs. The country always benefits from this practice of democracy. We, as a government, try to improve our work and regain the confidence. Our decision is to strengthen national unity, prevent the return of division, and work with Parliament for the benefit of us and the Council of Representatives for the benefit of Lebanon and for the benefit of all the Lebanese. The government is always at the disposal of Parliament for any discussion to serve the target". 

source: NNA