The approval came after a previous postponement due to disagreements over the priorities of the agenda, before the issue was reintroduced and received the council’s approval.
The decision sparked reservations from a number of deputies and legal bodies, who argued that “granting the license requires a law issued by the House of Representatives according to Article 89 of the Constitution,” warning of “the possibility of challenging it before the State Council and potential security risks associated with data and communication sovereignty,” according to the Lebanese newspaper “An-Nahar.”
On the other hand, the Lebanese Minister of Telecommunications, Charbel Haj, relied on the opinion of the Legislation and Consultation Authority, which confirmed that “the license can be granted by a government decree and is not subject to public procurement law.”
