Khazen

BEIRUT, March 26 (Reuters) – Lebanon’s parliament will discuss the government’s proposed 2018 budget – which forecasts a slightly reduced deficit of $4.8 billion – on Wednesday and Thursday, state news agency NNA reported on Monday, citing Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. The coalition government, which includes most major parties represented in the parliament, agreed on the budget on March 12. The Lebanese government, one of the most indebted in the world, is under pressure to show it is willing to institute fiscal reforms before an international donor meeting in April. Last year the government passed Lebanon’s first state budget since 2005 after years of wrangling between rival parties had all but brought political activity to a halt. The 2018 budget forecasts spending of 23.85 trillion Lebanese pounds ($15.79 billion) and 18.69 trillion pounds of revenues, while including no new taxes. ($1 = 1,510.0000 Lebanese pounds)