Lebanese Energy Minister Joe Sadi boycotts cabinet sessions

Lebanese Energy and Water Minister Joe Sadi has announced his withdrawal from cabinet sessions, citing a lack of government response to proposals aimed at addressing the country's energy crisis and protecting citizens from rising costs. Sadi stated his decision is intended to pressure the government to take responsibility for the energy sector, specifically regarding the payment of outstanding debts by state institutions to the Lebanese Electricity Establishment to facilitate fuel purchases.

The Free Patriotic Movement has criticized Sadi's decision, describing his absence from cabinet meetings as a “new chapter in the electricity file play.” The party accused the minister of wasting $700 million in assets from the electricity establishment without improving service and claimed that the current approach relies too heavily on seeking additional funding rather than operating production plants like Zouk and Jiyeh.

Additionally, the Free Patriotic Movement raised concerns regarding the national budget, labeling it an “accounting budget rather than a reformative one,” and criticized the Ministry of Education for its handling of school enrollments involving Syrian students.