Change and Reform bloc member MP Michel al-Helou revealed on Tuesday that the bloc has decided to form a committee to study the Shura Council’s rejection of the government’s wage hike decree.

Change and Reform bloc member MP Michel al-Helou revealed on Tuesday that the bloc has decided to form a committee to study the Shura Council’s rejection of the government’s wage hike decree.

He said after the bloc’s weekly meeting: “Our initial assessment has determined that the Shura Council’s decision has legal flaws.”

“I would like to point out that the Council’s decision is not binding to the government,” he stressed.

The Shura Council had rejected on Tuesday the government’s wage hike decree, which is based on Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas’ proposals on the matter.

The Change and Reform bloc meeting also addressed former Prime Minister Fouad Saniora’s “financial violations” during his tenure as finance minister.

Helou said: “The parliament should take a position from this matter and Saniora should be held accountable for his violations.”

“He should be tried before the supreme council for the trial of presidents and ministers,” added the MP.

Al-Akhbar newspaper had published a report on December 20 accusing Saniora of committing financial violations in the national lottery in 1996, “which consequently led to the squandering of LL5 billion from the state treasury.”

The former premier has committed a criminal offense and Audit Bureau should have seized his possessions because he stole public funds, explained Helou.

Furthermore, he said that the bloc is considering requesting the withdrawal of Saniora’s political immunity.