Lebanon: economic reform plan shunned by the opposition

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Lebanese President Michel Aoun gathered on Wednesday May 6 the leaders of the parliamentary blocs to explain the economic and financial reforms adopted by the government to get the country out of the unprecedented crisis that is hitting it. But the recovery plan is not unanimous within the political class.

Publicity

With our correspondent in Beirut, Paul Khalifeh

The parliamentary meeting was boycotted by the two main Sunni blocs chaired by former prime ministers Saad Hariri and Najib Mikati. This opposition is however motivated by considerations more political than economic. However, Michel Aoun assured him: this plan is "  devoid of political ulterior motives  ". The president invited the leaders of the country to apprehend it through the economic prism.

Same speech on the side of the Prime Minister. For Hassan Diab , the time is not for overbidding or political settling of scores but for unity. The reform plan should serve as the basis for negotiations with the International Monetary Fund. Negotiations which must not lead to "  any control over Lebanon  ", as Michel Aoun said.

Hezbollah agrees but does not want "  trusteeship  " over the country

He joins in this the position of Hezbollah, whose representative at the meeting supported the envisaged reforms and "  accepted the aid, wherever it comes from  ", provided that it does not impose "  a guardianship  " over the country.

The reform plan sets targets over five years. It provides for the rescheduling of the public debt which has reached 92 billion dollars (170% of the GDP), the restructuring of the banking sector , the reform of public finances and the revival of the productive economic sectors.

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• Lebanon
• Michel Aoun

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