The Lebanese government approvedUnanimously, the economic plan that hopes to pave the way for attracting the support of the International Monetary Fund, after three days of violent confrontations between demonstrators and the army in several cities.
The Lebanese presidency announced in a tweet on Twitter today, Thursday, that the government unanimously approved the country's economic plan after making "minor" amendments to its proposed formula.
Lebanese President Michel Aoun said at the beginning of the cabinet session that for the first time an economic plan is being approved after the lack of planning and prospecting the future almost led the country to "ruin".
During the session, Prime Minister Hassan Diab considered that "with the approval of the economic plan, we will have put the train on the railroad, and we have saturated it with a lesson because it will determine the path of the state to reform the reality."
| Placing metal sheets on the fronts of a bank in Beirut to protect it from the attacks of some protesters (Reuters) |
Prime Minister
At a press conference after the session, Diab said that the plan bears an economic vision for the future of Lebanon, and will be used as a basis for requesting a support program from the International Monetary Fund, explaining that the volume of support will be determined in the negotiations.
He added that the most prominent projects of the plan relate to bank secrecy and the suspension of legal and judicial deadlines, and that the government is looking into proposals and draft laws related to fighting corruption and the independence of the judiciary.
Commenting on the demonstrations, Diab said, "A sane person cannot blame people for their cry of social pain, but a sane person also cannot accept the destruction of property. A sane person cannot be convinced that this riot is spontaneous and does not carry political goals."
On another issue, the Lebanese Prime Minister said, "We are not in the final stages of the Corona crisis and everyone should not waste what we have accomplished in this regard," as he expected the spread of a second wave of the epidemic more than the first wave.
The Al-Jazeera correspondent pointed out that the plan includes measures to recover what are described as looted funds or transferred abroad, in addition to recovering the interests granted on bank deposits, seeking international assistance to obtain about ten billion dollars, and introducing reforms to various production sectors.
According to a preliminary version of the plan that was leaked weeks ago and sparked many criticisms, the government estimates that Lebanon needs more than $ 80 billion to get out of the crisis, including $ 10 to $ 15 billion in foreign aid over the next five years.
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Demonstrations and confrontations
On the other hand, the Lebanese army announced the injury of 23 military personnel as a result of "riots" during the popular protests yesterday, and said in a statement that it had arrested 24 people, including two Syrians and two Palestinians.
The protests have renewed since last Monday, the deteriorating living conditions and the collapse of the exchange rate of the lira, and included areas in Beirut, Tripoli, Nabatieh, Bekaa and the city of Sidon, where protesters threw petrol bombs at the Central Bank of Lebanon branch and smashed its façade.
Diab accused unidentified parties yesterday of incitement and said that it distorts popular movements and burns the country.
The Maronite Patriarch in Lebanon, Bechara Al-Raie, said that infringements on public and private property, the army, and the security forces in the country are unacceptable, and that the world’s confidence in Lebanon is lost.
After meeting President Aoun, the shepherd affirmed his support for the people's demands and the fulfillment of his needs, but stressed that what he described as a civil and constructive uprising, as he put it.
On the other hand, the Islamic Group in Lebanon said that getting out of the economic crisis facing the country is difficult, but not impossible.
He called on the group and member of parliament, Imad Al-Hout, to stop what he described as contradictions, and focus on taking measures to reduce the repercussions of the existing crisis.