President Michel Suleiman and Premier Najib Miqati discussed the electricity crisis and the procrastination in the government’s appointment of civil servants to top posts, An Nahar daily reported Sunday.

Suleiman and Miqati held talks at Baabda palace on Saturday in an attempt to set the stage for a cabinet session that is scheduled to discuss the draft 2012 state budget and electricity.

Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas reiterated on Monday that he would not resign from the cabinet, but stressed that he refused to approve the transportation and education allowances decree.

“If some members (of the cabinet) don’t like my stance, then all they could do is to try to guarantee 20 ministers to approve my resignation,” he told As Safir newspaper.

Cabinet is expected to convene at the Baabda Palace on Monday and Tuesday in order to continue address the remaining articles on its previous agendas, most notably the Jal el-Dib bridge, reported the daily An Nahar on Saturday.

The sessions are also expected to address the 2012 state budget, which was referred to the government my Finance Minister Mohammed al-Safadi months ago, but put on hold to await minister remarks on it, said the daily.

The price index committee meeting failed on Thursday to reach an agreement over the wage hike.

Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas announced that he will propose his plan in cabinet “because the government is responsible for implementing the law. Anything other than that does not concern us.”

Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas’ wage hike proposal faced another controversy on Thursday after the Economic Committees refused to comment on the cabinet’s new decision, while the General Labor Confederation hinted it might suspend its planned strike.

Head of GLC Ghasan Ghosn told al-Liwaa newspaper on Thursday that the Confederation might suspend its strike on December 27 that was aimed at protesting low wages.

President Michel Suleiman discussed on Wednesday with lawmakers representing Beirut their project to establish an arms-free capital, according to the National News Agency.

They tackled the security situation in Beirut and the MPs’ project to remove “illegal arms” from the capital in order to fortify civil peace.

Cabinet postponed its session on Friday due to the lack of quorum after the Change and Reform ministers did not attend the meeting, which was expected to be held at the Baabda palace.

The ministers chose not to attend the session because of they are reportedly upset over the way they have been treated by the government, reported OTV.

President Michel Suleiman discussed on Saturday with Brazilian Vice President Michel Temer the importance of developing the bilateral relations between the two countries, asking assistance to pressure Israel to implement U.N. Security Council resolution 1701.

Suleiman stressed during a meeting with Temer at Baabda Palace on the importance of reforming the United Nations and the World Trade Organizations.

Speaker Nabih Berri held a meeting on Wednesday with President Michel Suleiman at Baabda palace to discuss the possibility of the resumption of the dialogue between the Lebanese foes.

A presidential statement said Suleiman and Berri discussed the latest developments and ways to restart the all-party talks.

The cabinet approved “in principle” a proposal by the Change and Reform bloc to separate the parliamentary seat from a ministerial post, which requires amending article 28 of the constitution.

President Michel Suleiman is expected to carry out his constitutional right and amend article 28 in order to prevent MPs from occupying a ministerial post, As Safir newspaper reported on Wednesday.