The finance minister in the caretaker government, Ali Hassan Khalil, spoke yesterday of an alarming shortage in state revenues, pointing out that the LBP 5000 that were at hand in the past three months have now dropped by nearly 40%. This caused a deficit beyond what was anticipated in the draft budget, Khalil warned, suggesting that all the figures of the 2020 state budget will change. While reassuring that public sector salaries will be released before December 25 as usual, Khalil explained these figures are initial, but added, they will be secured despite actual fiscal difficulties. In conclusion, the minister asked the government to act responsibly, and addressed the caretaker PM demanding him to summon a meeting of the cabinet to facilitate administrative matters and citizens’ affairs. On the other hand, the head of Al Tawhid Al Arabi Party, Wiam Wahhab, warned about the catastrophic situation awaiting the country. He said, “For those who don’t know, around 440,000 families (nearly half of the population) will be below the poverty line in a matter of months, while they (politicians) are still maneuvering.” “Guys, no shares will be left. Take a closer look at the conditions of the people to know what is happening,” Wahhab tweeted. (Al Diyar, December 12, 2019)