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Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced on Tuesday that he will submit the resignation of his government. For thirteen days, Lebanon has been in a deep political crisis marked by numerous demonstrations.
" I am going to the Baabda Palace to present the resignation of the government to the President of the Republic. It is with these words that Saad Hariri announced his departure on Tuesday. A brief televised address during which the Prime Minister called on the Lebanese to preserve civil peace. The head of government admitted to being in a " dead end ".
For two weeks, the demonstrations of mistrust of a political class accused of corruption and mismanagement of public finances are increasing. The protesters consider it responsible for the worst economic crisis since the civil war of the years 1975-1990.
Few concessions
The power had so far made no significant concessions to the popular anger unleashed on Oct. 17 by the announcement of a tax on calls via WhatsApp messaging. A tax canceled since then, but that was not enough to make the anger fall. In a televised speech on October 21, Saad Hariri announced a reform plan that did not convince the crowds.
For its part, President Michel Aoun had raised, on October 24, the possibility of a cabinet reshuffle that has not materialized so far because of internal divisions in his government.
In this extremely tense political context, on Tuesday, protesters were already blocking some Beirut roads. Shortly before the announcement of Hariri's resignation, dozens of gunmen attacked the main protesters' demonstration site in central Beirut, a sign of mounting tension.