Parliament Imposes New Taxes on Cigarettes, Alcohol

The parliament resumed its sessions on Thursday to discuss measures aimed at funding the thorny wage scale file, as Deputy Speaker Farid Makari warned lawmakers of his intention to reveal the names of deputies “he believes are stalling the approval of the salary scale during the parliament discussions.”

During the legislative session, lawmakers approved a raise on alcoholic beverages.

They also approved a proposal suggested by MP Atef Majdalani to impose LBP 250 on cigarette packs, LBP 250 on tobacco and LBP 500 on cigars.

Debate intensified between lawmakers over the raise in tobacco fees which made Makari threaten to adjourn the session.

46 lawmakers approved the increase while 22 AMAL and Hizbullah deputies objected against the measure.

Industry Minister Hussein Hajj Hassan assured that the wage scale will be approved in the end. “It is just passing through rough times,” he said.

The meeting was later adjourned until 5:00 p.m. and consequently to a date that will be set later by Speaker Nabih Berri after quorum was lost.

Talking to the press after the morning session, an angry Makari said some lawmakers were wasting time by engaging in useless debates which could threaten the fate of the wage scale.

“I will be compelled to name the lawmakers to the public if they continue to do so,” he said. “I hope they do not delay the approval of the wage scale because they say something in the parliament and do another in front of the media.”

During its Wednesday session, the parliament approved hiking the value-added tax (VAT) from 10 to 11% as other taxes on financial transactions were also hiked.

A LBP 6,000 tax on the production of each ton of cement was also approved amid the objections of the Democratic Gathering and al-Mustaqbal blocs.