An answer from the executive was expected in Lebanon on the second day of massive demonstrations against the political class, against a backdrop of economic crisis. This is done with the speech of the Prime Minister, Saad Hariri, who gave Friday, October 18, 72 hours to the members of the government coalition to support its economic reforms.

"Our partners in the government must give us a clear and definitive answer, which is convincing for me, for the Lebanese and for the international community" to show that "we have all opted for reforms, to put an end to waste and corruption "warned Saad Hariri in a much-awaited television address.

"Otherwise I will hold another speech (...) in a very short time of 72 hours," warned the Prime Minister.

The protest, which began Thursday night with clashes between protesters and police in central Beirut, forced Saad Hariri to cancel a ministerial meeting scheduled for Friday on the 2020 budget.

Tens of thousands of protesters expressed anger Friday across Lebanon against a political elite they accuse of plundering the country's economy, blocking roads, erecting barricades of burning tires and sparing no side of their critics.

In central Beirut, security forces used tear gas to disperse thousands of protesters after some of them set fire to a nearby building, according to Lebanese TV channels.

These rallies all over the country, the biggest protest movement in years, have mixed Lebanese of all faiths and social classes who were calling in unison for the resignation of the Sunni government Saad Hariri, the Christian president, Michel Aoun, or again the Shiite Speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berri.

This explosion of anger is the result of growing dissatisfaction with inflation and the rising cost of living, compounded by the announcement of new taxes, including the creation of a tax on calls made by Whatsapp application. The government finally backed down on this project.

Lebanon close to economic collapse

Economists, investors and rating agencies have also recently increased warnings. In their eyes, the country has never been so close to an economic collapse since the end of the war, in 1990, because of its indebtedness and endemic corruption.

France, which hosted a conference in April 2018 on the subject, called Friday "the effective implementation of the decisions taken" on this occasion.

"It is a question of allowing, through the implementation of expected reforms and the financing of identified projects, the restoration of the Lebanese economy and the provision of public services by the State, for the direct benefit of all Lebanese" says the Quai d'Orsay in a statement.

The UN, for its part, called on Friday "all parties to refrain from activities that may lead to increased tension or violence" in Lebanon.

His spokesman added that "the United Nations continues to work with the Government of Lebanon and international partners to help address the challenges Lebanon faces, including its economic situation."

With AFP and Reuters