The President of the Council of Ministers Saad Hariri chaired on Friday at the Grand Serail a cabinet meeting to discuss 63 items on its agenda.

Before the meeting, Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk told reporters that the agenda includes the expenses of the electoral supervisory authority, and said: "I want to emphasize that elections will take place on time. What we are discussing is the mechanism and not the date of the elections. Also the biometric card is being discussed with the political parties."

At the end of the meeting, Minister of Information Melhem Riachi read the following official information: "The Council of Ministers held its ordinary meeting at the Grand Serail chaired by the President of the Council of Minister Saad Hariri and approved its agenda. It will hold its next meeting in the Presidential Palace to discuss current issues."

Question: Did you approve the item regarding the electoral supervisory authority?
Riachi: This item was approved, and all pending issues will be discussed during next meeting. Today most items on the agenda were approved.

In a chat with journalists, Minister Marwan Hamade said: "The Council of Ministers and the presidency of the Republic are not dealing correctly with the files of the Ministry of Education. There is a draft decree to enroll 207 professors who succeeded in the Lebanese University and joined the Faculty of Education to replace those who retired this year in high schools. The issue is complete and no one is giving explanations on thousands of teachers who were appointed during the last decades. I will ask Parliament to explain article 95 from the Constitution that restricts the balance between sects to the first category only. I cannot ensure a balance in the remaining categories, that is the second, third, fourth and fifth and if there anyone in Lebanon who can make a demographic change and ensure this then I will accept it.
The appointment of guards, public school teachers and accountants is being obstructed due to the explanation of article 95

Source: NNA