BEIRUT: The weekly session of the Cabinet Wednesday saw a heated debate over the disputed transfer of funds from the Telecommunications to the Finance Ministry, as representatives of the Free Patriotic Movement and the Progressive Socialist Party clashed verbally over the issue.

Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas, a representative of the FPM, has so far refused to transfer telecoms revenues to the Finance Ministry.

Nahhas’ refusal came under fire from Public Works and Transportation Minister Ghazi Aridi. Aridi’s criticism of Nahhas prompted the latter’s colleague in the FPM, Energy Minister Gibran Bassil, to take up his defense.

The lengthy debate, which took place during a session that lasted for more than six hours, saw Bassil snap back at Aridi and accuse him of spending funds on infrastructure works, particularly “asphalting roads,” without the prior approval of the government.

Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who presided over the meeting held at the Grand Serail, didn’t intervene to put an end to the debate and the session ended without reaching an agreement over the issue. However, ministers denied the argument had taken place when speaking to reporters as they left the meeting.

Wednesday’s debate wasn’t the first between members of the FPM and the PSP, who have disputed several ministerial resolutions recently, with the fiercest debate taking place over a proposal to develop Lebanon’s electricity sector, based on a plan authored by Bassil.

Last month, PSP ministers refused to endorse Bassil’s proposal without introducing amendments to the plan, a position that Mikati backed, fueling tension between the prime minister and the PSP on the one hand and the FPM on the other.

Commenting on another recent controversial government decision, Sports Minister Faisal Karami told reporters after leaving the session that the Cabinet would stick to its agreement, reached with the General Labor Confederation last week, to mandate an increase in wages without any changes.

Under the deal, the monthly minimum wage would be raised to LL700,000 from LL500,000, while the wages of those earning less than LL1 million would be raised by LL200,000 and those who earn between LL1 million and LL1.8 million would see a rise of LL300,000.

The decision drew ire in separate directions from workers’ unions and representatives of the private sector, with the unions arguing the wage increases don’t go far enough, and the private sector urging companies not to implement the increase at all.

Mikati said during the session that his government needed more time to consider the different demands by labor unions, urging all parties to cooperate to find a solution to disputed issues.

On another note, the government approved plans to start drilling for oil and gas in Lebanon’s territorial waters after mapping the area.