LEBANON PROTESTS KEEP UP PRESSURE ON HARIRI

Prime minister hints at resignation if government does not agree to reforms

Central Beirut was flooded with protesters yesterday, gathering to keep the pressure on the Lebanese government as demonstrations entered a fourth day.

Tens of thousands took to the streets in central Beirut while in cities from Tripoli in the north to Tyre in the south, thousands joined local protests.

In central Beirut’s Riad Al Solh Square, protesters unfurled a huge Lebanese flag.

Day four of the protest movement followed a night of revelry at festive rallies across the country. Videos shared online showed a DJ playing to the crowd in Tripoli while demonstrators in Beirut danced dabke, a popular regional dance.

The Voice of Lebanon radio station reported disputes in south Lebanon between protesters and supporters of the Shiite majority Amal party who the demonstrators accused of threatening rallies with weapons. Protests there continued yesterday but with no mention of political leaders, reportedly on the directions of Amal officials.

Elsewhere in the country, clashes other than with authorities were relatively rare.

At the weekend, police used water cannon and batons to clear protests in Beirut.

Schools, universities and colleges said that they would remain closed today, after a similar announcement by the Lebanese Association of Banks who said branches would stay shut.

The American University of Beirut yesterday said that no exams would be held for at least a week when classes resume.

Educational institutions closed on Friday after the first night of mass rallies in Beirut and towns across the country sparked by a Cabinet session to discuss new taxes for the 2020 state budget that included a proposal to add a charge to WhatsApp and other internet calling services.

People across the political spectrum joined together in a rare nationwide demand for the resignation of the government and serious action to address the economic crisis and lack of services.

“I didn’t expect people from the country’s north, south and Beirut to join hands and like each other. The protests have brought together everyone. This has never happened before,” said Sahar Younis, 32, a worker with a non-governmental organisation.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who leads a coalition government mired by sectarian and political rivalries, gave his feuding partners a 72-hour deadline on Friday to agree to reforms that could ward off an economic crisis, hinting he may otherwise resign.

He accused his rivals of obstructing budget measures that could unlock $11 billion (Dh40.4bn) in western donor pledges and help avert economic collapse.

Reports suggest politicians were concerned that should Mr Hariri announce his resignation it would collapse the government and push the country into the unknown. There are few other viable Sunni politicians who could take up the position if Mr Hariri stood down.

Lebanese English language newspaper, The Daily Star, quoted sources close to Foreign Minister Gibran Bassil as saying, “of course he is scared. This is a big problem”, referring to the protests.

Leader of the Christian

majority Lebanese Forces party, Samir Geagea, announced on Saturday evening that his four ministers were standing down, saying that the government lacked any intention of carrying out reforms.

Mr Geagea suggested that the Cabinet members from Druze leader Walid Jumblatt’s Progressive Socialist Party would follow suit, but this was denied by Industry Minister Wael Abou Faour.

Mr Abou Faour said yesterday that he and fellow PSP minister Akram Chehayeb, who holds the education portfolio, would not be leaving the government.

The prime minister is urging coalition partners to back his economic plan but it is unclear if piecemeal proposals to fix the country’s financial crisis can reduce the anger on the streets.

In addition to years of stagnant growth, stubbornly high unemployment, poor public service provision, an internet speed that ranks among the slowest in the world and crumbling infrastructure, Lebanon is facing an acute financial crisis and a shortage of US dollars.

The IMF said last week that Lebanon’s crisis requires tough austerity measures such as tax hikes and levies on fuel, steps the country’s beleaguered politicians have publicly vowed not to take.

Lebanon’s economy registered 0.3 per cent growth last year. The IMF said the reforms were needed to stem a ballooning deficit and public debt that it forecasts will reach 155 per cent of GDP by the end of the year.

But protesters think the government is considering new taxes on the public without addressing wasteful spending as well as tax avoiding by major businesses and banks.

Ending chronic corruption is a central demand of the protesters, who say the country’s leaders have used their positions to enrich themselves for decades through favourable deals and kickbacks.

“All of the leaders should be put under house arrest and be held accountable to return the money they stole from the state so Lebanon can get back on its feet,” said Antoine Zahli, 43, a pharmacist who was among the protesters in downtown Beirut.

Student Charbel Antoun, 17, said: “We want to stay in Lebanon to build our future but if these corrupt politicians stay here, what future will be left for us?”