A looming crisis in Lebanon might place the government in a direct confrontation with judicial authorities, after judges hinted on Wednesday to start a strike next week, a step that could disrupt the parliamentary elections. Judges plan to strike in protest of a decision to decrease the budget of the Justice Ministry and therefore, lessen benefits and dry out sources of the solidarity fund, which provides judges a benefit of less than one month’s salary every three months, in addition to family medical and education benefits. After judges alluded to take escalatory measures against the budget cuts, a final decision concerning the strike is expected next Monday during a meeting also attended by members of the Supreme Judicial Council. “All sorts of things could happen, from staging an open strike in courts to boycotting the parliamentary elections through the judges’ decision to decline from heading the Primary and Higher Registration Committees and therefore, threaten the legitimacy of the elections and lead to their disruption,” a judicial source told Asharq Al-Awsat on Wednesday. The source added that judges could also take a decision to resign form their posts, a choice seen by many as the most suitable response to the authorities’ indifference facing their conditions. The cabinet on Monday approved the 2018 budget, and will now pass it to parliament for approval. On Wednesday, Speaker Nabih Berri said that the parliamentary session to ratify 2018 budget would take place before the end of March, indicating that the Finance Committee shall hold intensive sessions to discuss the budget. Separately, Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk on Wednesday revealed that the amnesty decree would be endorsed soon, thanking the efforts of Prime Minister Saad Hariri and the Future Movements ministers. "The first draft has been finalized and it will be approved in the nearest time, owing to the tremendous efforts exerted by Hariri and Futures ministers," Mashnouq said during a meeting with al-Kurdi family at Ramada Hotel.


 The minister also called for a huge turnout in the coming legislative polls.


 "This time, the elections are a watershed," he said.