MP Halima Kaakour said the government has been slow to pass judicial independence laws. As a result, MPs committed to their election programs decided to submit the bills themselves. The government has also failed to send any bill on the financial judiciary. This is despite pledges in the ministerial statement and from the President.
Holding the government to account
At a press conference, Kaakour stressed that MPs will hold the government to account for unfulfilled items in the ministerial statement. She warned against debating a new budget without a final accounts audit. Lebanon has lacked these accounts since 1994. Without them, no one can verify the accuracy of public revenue and spending figures.
The proposed law
Kaakour said the proposed law includes a key step. It would stop the executive authority from paralyzing the financial judiciary. The Financial Judiciary Council would be able to call entrance exams for the Judicial Studies Institute. These would run independently of political decisions and chronic delays.
Neglected audit reports
She ended by criticizing the lack of real follow-up on the reports and recommendations of the Court of Audit. These are the main basis for effective oversight and accountability in the state.
