Despite the decisions of the government .. Demonstrations in Lebanon continue to demand the departure of the ruling elite

Protests in Lebanon continue for the fifth day in a row to demand the resignation of the government, the departure of the ruling political class and the return of looted funds, while Prime Minister Saad Hariri, in contact with the army chief, stressed the need to protect protesters and open roads in all areas.

These moves come despite the Cabinet's approval of the draft law of the state budget for next year and a series of measures to face the current crisis.

Demonstrators gathered in downtown Beirut and other cities, including Tripoli, Tire, Sidon and Nabatiyeh, at a time when a number of roads continue to be cut in some streets of the capital and areas, amid calls from unions and labor unions for the continuation of popular movements and general strike.

Popular moves since Thursday have been unprecedented and did not exclude a region or sect, and their chants and statements of all the participants extended to leaders, and broke the prestige surrounding the political forces that found themselves forced to hear the noise of the street and harsh accusations of theft, corruption and looting.

Balancing and procedures
Earlier in the day, the Cabinet approved the draft law of the state budget for next year and a series of measures to address the current crisis.

In a press conference held after a cabinet session that approved these measures, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri affirmed that no new taxes will be imposed on citizens, cut the salaries of current and former presidents, ministers and deputies by 50%, establish a national anti-corruption commission before the end of this year, and work on preparing a draft law. To recover looted money.

Hariri said the government was also planning to approve, within three weeks, the first phase of an investment program pledged by donors to finance $ 11 billion, which was conditional on reforms.

Hariri added, `` Today we have taken measures in the fight against corruption and anti-waste, we have made large projects, and we reached a budget deficit of 0.63 this is the biggest achievement we have done and I challenge the history of governments that such a thing has been achieved, '' considering that this is a financial coup for 2020.

Hariri acknowledged that these decisions may not satisfy the demonstrators, and stressed that they "are not taken to barter" for leaving the street, telling them to say, "You are making this decision and no one gives you the deadline."

As soon as Hariri ended his speech, which was followed by the demonstrators in downtown Beirut, they started chanting "revolution, revolution" and "the people want to overthrow the regime."

The positions of the parties
For its part, the Lebanese Communist Party said that what is happening in Lebanon is a popular uprising to impose what he called a change in the composition of power.

The party presented an initiative to resolve the crisis, including meeting the demands of the Lebanese people and the immediate resignation of the government, the formation of a transitional national government to implement the early parliamentary elections and take immediate measures starting with the restoration of public funds and the establishment of a fair tax system.

The party called on the demonstrators to produce joint frameworks to organize what he called the Intifada and escalate it in Beirut and the regions in order to achieve its goals.

Meanwhile, Lebanese Minister of Industry Wael Abou Faour said that the withdrawal of the ministers of the Progressive Socialist Party from today's cabinet session was due to the lack of opinion on some issues.

Abu Faour said in a press conference in Beirut that what he described as the logic of tyranny of a political party in the government is still going on, and that some still live in the period before the outbreak of demonstrations in the street.

For its part, the Association of Banks in Lebanon said that banks will remain closed on Tuesday and until the situation improves in the country.