Lebanese confront Hariri on tax increases
BEIRUT // Demonstrators pelted the Lebanese prime minister’s car with water bottles yesterday as thousands descended on central Beirut to protest against a broad tax rise they say is unfairly targeting the country’s working classes.
Saad Hariri got out of his armoured car behind the police line at the demonstration facing the government’s capital building but could get no closer as protesters began throwing water bottles and shouting “thieves”. The Lebanese government is paralysed over a budget proposal that would raise more than a dozen tax rates to fund a salary increase for teachers and civil servants.
Parliament approved some tax increases on Wednesday, including raising VAT from 10 to 11 per cent.
Demonstrators said the government had squandered public money through shady public-private contracts and should plug the budget deficit by addressing corruption instead.
The Lebanese parliament has twice extended its own term over disagreements on how to hold elections.
Polls are scheduled to take place in May, but senior politicians are yet to approve them.