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Report: Hizbullah, FPM Political Rift Increases

The political rift between Hizbullah and Free Patriotic Movement that surged to the surface lately has increased after Hizbullah ministers approved Prime Minister Najib Miqati’s wage hike proposal, al-Liwaa newspaper reported on Thursday.

“The conflict (between the two parties) require a meeting between Hizbullah Chief (Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah) and (FPM leader) Michel Aoun,” Hizbullah sources told the daily.

An FPM leader accused Hizbullah of “lying” because it’s not backing up its strategic political ally.

Hizbullah ministers Mohammed Fneish and Hussein Hajj Hassan voted in favor of Miqati’s wage hike proposal knocking down Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas’ package, which included a more comprehensive proposal, but according to Fneish requires “further discussions.”

Miqati proposed a minimum wage increased by LL100,000 to LL600,000, salaries under LL1 million by 30% up to a LL200,000 increase, and salaries above LL1 million by a 20% increase up to LL275,000.

However, Nahhas proposed adding transportation allowances to basic salaries, providing health care coverage for all Lebanese residents by adding taxes on real estate transactions and a 16.3 percent wage hike to all salaries without specifying a certain ceiling for the increase.


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