Mr. Fouad Makhzoumi warns against increasing taxes and calls on the government to introduce a clear economic reform plan.

The head of the National Dialogue Party, Mr. Fouad Makhzoumi, expressed his concern that the delay in the passing of the 2010 budget law was due to continued bickering over power-sharing.

Mr. Makhzoumi warned against any planned increases of VAT in the absence of development projects and health and social aid that would help the Lebanese citizens. He also called on the government to provide a reform plan that would pull Lebanon out of its current economic crisis.

Mr. Makhzoumi questioned the wisdom behind depending on aid from donor countries, such as that pledged in Paris 1, 2 and 3, in view of the current global financial crisis. He commented that the country was in need of many brave economic and political decisions to be made, especially concerning issues such as health and social benefits, unemployment and immigration.