Reforms vow after protests in Lebanon

LEBANON’S Cabinet approved sweeping reforms yesterday, hoping to appease the thousands of protesters who have taken to the streets for the past five days to demand the government step down.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri said no government in Lebanon’s history had taken such steps before.

As Mr Hariri’s speech was aired live on TV, thousands of protesters who had gathered in central Beirut chanted: “The people want to bring down the regime.”

Hundreds of thousands participated in marches on Sunday in Beirut and other cities nationwide. The protests have turned into a widening revolt against the country’s sectarian status quo and the political elite.

The outrage over the government’s mismanagement of a deepening economic crisis and proposed new taxes has unified Lebanon’s often fractious society.

Mr Hariri had given his government – an unwieldy national coalition of nine parties – until yesterday evening to come up with convincing solutions to the economic crisis.

After a nearly five-hour emergency government meeting, Mr Hariri told reporters the Cabinet approved the 2020 budget with a deficit of 0.6% with no new taxes.

He said the salaries of top officials, including legislators and members of parliament, will be cut in half as part of an economic reform package.

He added that the country’s central bank and the banking sector, which are flush with cash, will help in reducing the deficit by about £2.6bn in 2020.

The government will also distribute millions of pounds to families living in poverty.