Lebanon’s Cabinet convened on Wednesday to discuss a range of domestic issues, setting a 45-day deadline for private generator owners to comply with official regulations and rejecting a proposed amendment that would have altered the powers of the judicial investigator.

Information Minister Paul Morcos said the sessions addressed violations by private generator owners. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam instructed ministries and public bodies to act swiftly within their legal powers to ensure compliance with Energy Ministry pricing directives, installation of electronic meters and filters, and adherence to official regulations. Generators failing to comply within the 45-day period could be fined, seized, or confiscated.

The Cabinet also rejected a draft law that would have amended the judicial investigator’s powers regarding acceptance of motions, arrest warrants, release orders, and the subjection of such rulings to specific review and appeal procedures. Ministers blocked the proposed changes after Justice Minister Adel Nassar had argued that no measures should be taken that apply to a particular case.

The Cabinet also approved tougher penalties for assaults against doctors, pharmacists, nurses and other healthcare workers.

Mohammad Salim Zaatari has been appointed as director general of Rafik Hariri University Hospital, with remaining appointments to other public hospital boards to follow.

The government also authorized the recruitment of 500 specialist and non-specialist trainee sergeants, 1,000 trainee police officers, and the hiring of 56 contract staff for the Internal Security Forces.

Morcos said Salam also stressed the importance of satellite-based internet services and warned of the financial burden posed by illegal internet networks on the State treasury.

The Cabinet will meet again on Thursday afternoon to continue discussions on pending agenda items, with waste management, the electricity crisis and the introduction of Starlink satellite internet services among the key topics.