The Lebanese cabinet convened on Thursday in the absence of Hezbollah and Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) ministers

The Lebanese cabinet convened on Thursday in the absence of Hezbollah and Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) ministers, who stormed out of the cabinet session earlier on Tuesday over the lack of respect for the principle of partnership.

However, the cabinet approved the payment of public sector wages and tasking the ministers of transportation and justice to hire a legal firm to defend Lebanon against a lawsuit by a foreign air line.

In addition, several items were also approved during Thursday session: tasking Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk to contact municipalities over their potential role in a solution to the garbage crisis, approving a number of donations to state institutions, issuing Eurobonds and transferring owed funds to municipalities.

Five ministers boycotted the session from Hezbollah and FPM: Culture Minister Rony Areiji, Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, Energy Minister Arthur Nazarian, Industry Minister Hussein al-Hajj Hasan and State Minister Mohammad Fneich.

The ministers stormed out of Tuesday session because of making decisions and signing decrees without their approval.