The Failed Minister Resorts to Populism

Energy Minister Joe Saddi wrote that he will request the cancellation of the 300,000 LBP fee on a gasoline canister, arguing that citizens can no longer bear it. However, the article argues that this fee was approved as part of the funding sources for the salary increase for public sector employees and the military, questioning the alternative funding source if it is cancelled. It notes that station commissions increased by 66,000 LBP per canister, and estimates based on customs data that Lebanon imported about 148 million gasoline canisters in 2025, which could mean an annual increase of about $109 million. The article demands that the minister disclose figures on importers' and stations' shares, and steps to increase state electricity hours, considering his approach populist.