In Lebanon, thousands of protesters against a rise in taxes

Thousands of Lebanese demonstrators took to the streets in dozens of cities in the country of Cedar, Thursday, October 17 in the evening, to express their anger against the political class and a tax increase decided by the Lebanese government. A spontaneous mobilization amid a worsening economic situation, and fears of a devaluation and a shortage of dollars on foreign exchange markets.

Roads cut everywhere in the country. The angry street #Liban #economy the protests began last night and continue this morning.

In central Beirut, near the government headquarters, but also in the southern suburbs, or in other major cities like Tire (south) or Tripoli (north), protesters waved Lebanese flags, sung national anthem and chanted "the people demand the fall of the regime", sometimes burning tires and cutting roads. Permanences of several deputies were also the target of the demonstrators, and the forces of the order made repeatedly use of tear gas.

President Michel Aoun announced that a government meeting would be held this Friday at the Baabda Presidential Palace to discuss these events.

For its part, the Ministry of Education announced Thursday night the closure of public and private schools and universities Friday, "because of the current situation of the country," while calls for a general strike were launched by the main unions.

Massive demonstrations in all areas of #Liban. United, they recite in heart the national anthem. pic.twitter.com/J53OKwuT4x

The bullshit is aimed at the political sphere, accused of corruption, patronage and business in a country with decaying infrastructure and where citizens complain about the high cost of living and the weakness of public services.

More recently, on social networks, Lebanese netizens had denounced the fact that the authorities could not use helicopters acquired in 2009 to fight against fires that ravaged the country because of a lack of funds for the maintenance of the devices.

A critical economic situation

It is against this backdrop that protesters overwhelmed by the decision of Prime Minister Saad Hariri's government to impose a tax on calls made via Internet messaging applications went out on the street.

Information Minister Mohammad Choucair announced in the evening that the government was giving up the tax, but the announcement did not calm protesters who had been on the street all night long. Earlier Thursday he had explained that users would be charged 20 cents (18 euro cents) for each call made through services such as Whatsapp and Viber.

On Wednesday evening, the government had already approved an increase in tobacco taxes, according to the Lebanese news agency ANI.

In July, the Parliament adopted an austerity budget for 2019, which aims to reduce the deficit by four points. Public debt rises to more than $ 86 billion, more than 150% of GDP.

Beirut committed in April 2018 to initiate reforms at an international conference in return for promises of loans and grants totaling $ 11.6 billion.

With AFP