Lebanon: Cabinet session decisions and the energy minister's sit-in crisis

⏱️ Timeline

1. 8 Oct 2026, 06:28 Information reported by "Nidaa al-Watan" newspaper said Baabda is determined to end the sit-in crisis of Energy and Water Minister Joe Saddeh, and that solutions could emerge in the coming hours.
2. 8 Oct 2026, 07:28 The meeting that brought together Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and several ministers, including Energy Minister Joe Saddeh, at the Grand Serail on Wednesday afternoon ended without a settlement on Saddeh's participation in Cabinet sessions. Saddeh reiterated that securing the funds needed for his ministry's work is the responsibility of the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister, demanding 50 million dollars to buy fuel and increase electricity supply hours, and insisting on his position.
3. 8 Oct 2026, 08:26 Attention turned to the Cabinet session scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Baabda Palace, after the Prime Minister's meeting with the Energy Minister failed to end the dispute over the latter's return to Cabinet sessions, while the premiership announced that discussion would continue in a special meeting on Friday.
4. 8 Oct 2026, 10:03 MPs' readings of the energy minister's sit-in diverged: MP Strida Geagea considered that what is happening in the electricity file is no longer acceptable under any pretext, and that Energy Minister Joe Saddeh's announcement of his sit-in should be a serious warning bell for the entire government because Lebanese should not pay the price of obstructing reform, while MP Salim Aoun saw that the solution to the electricity file is not through the minister's sit-in because the result is failure to secure electricity.
5. 8 Oct 2026, 18:10 The Cabinet session was held at the Baabda Palace chaired by President Joseph Aoun and moved toward extending the term of Lebanese University President Bassam Badran by consensus for 5 years, appointing Pauline Dib as Director-General of the Ministry of Labor, and discussed a proposal not to move to winter time. Defense Minister Michel Menassa was absent, Energy Minister Joe Saddeh continued his sit-in, and Telecommunications Minister Charles Hajj announced his rejection of selling the Alpha and Touch assets.
6. 8 Oct 2026, 18:48 MTV Lebanon reported that the Lebanese Cabinet approved adopting daylight saving time year-round, meaning the clock will no longer be changed.
7. 8 Oct 2026, 19:06 MP Edgar Traboulsi announced his support for renewing the term of Lebanese University President Professor Bassam Badran for a second term, saying in a post on X that giving a successful president an additional term is a fundamental reason for the university's advancement, citing the terms of former presidents who served more than one term, following the Cabinet's decision to extend Badran in a step that sparked debate over continuity versus choosing a new name.
8. 8 Oct 2026, 19:08 Information Minister Paul Morcos announced after the end of the Cabinet session at the Baabda Palace the setting of November 15 as the date for the first commercial flight from Rene Mouawad Airport (Qlaiat airport), approval to complete aviation works and tasking the Civil Aviation Authority with conducting the necessary tenders; he also noted the preparation of a solar energy draft law and the opening of a credit for Electricite du Liban, conveyed President Aoun's call to speed up the creation of a Ministry of Artificial Intelligence, and said there is no intention to make any changes to winter time.
9. 8 Oct 2026, 20:02 The premiership announced in a memo numbered 24/M that daylight saving time will end as of midnight on October 24-25, 2026, with the clock set back one hour, in implementation of Cabinet Decision No. 5 of August 20, 1998, and the memo was circulated to all departments, public institutions and municipalities.
10. 8 Oct 2026, 20:06 The Cabinet in its Baabda session approved appointing Professor Bassam Badran as Lebanese University president for 5 years and Diana Maradian as Director of the Central Administration of Statistics, while keeping summer and winter time unchanged. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced a public transport plan starting with the purchase of 250 buses, the opening of a 50 million dollar credit for Electricite du Liban, and facilitations for solar energy loans.
11. 9 Oct 2026, 07:49 Information said the collective sit-in of the Lebanese Forces ministers is rejected by Saudi Arabia, which prevented Energy Minister Joe Saddeh's sit-in from turning into a comprehensive ministerial boycott. The LF ministers support Saddeh's demand linked to the electricity crisis but continue to attend Cabinet sessions, and Industry Minister Joe Issa el-Khoury confirmed they do not intend to withdraw from government work, while keeping the door open for later action.
12. 9 Oct 2026, 07:49 A report said the announced date for operating Qlaiat airport in Akkar may push to accelerate the additional tenders that have not yet been completed, and that any delay in auditing costs and conditions could affect the date of the first flight, putting the concerned parties under pressure to complete the tender quickly to avoid postponing the announced date.
13. 9 Oct 2026, 12:30 MP Fadi Karam confirmed positive atmospheres regarding the energy minister's sit-in crisis, noting that the President and the Prime Minister are dealing seriously with the demands raised by the minister as being in the interest of all Lebanese and not tied to a factional interest. He said in an interview with "Voice of All Lebanon" that there is serious discussion of the details of these demands to reach a solution that improves electricity supply, secures energy for citizens and eases their burdens.
14. 9 Oct 2026, 13:36 Interior and Municipalities Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar chaired a periodic meeting to follow up preparations at Rene Mouawad Airport – Qlaiat, with the participation of the heads of airport security agencies, customs and representatives of the relevant companies, stressing the readiness of the security agencies to secure the operation of the airport and the launch of the first flights expected in November.

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