After angry demonstrations are continuing .. The Lebanese government retracts the tax on Internet communications

Lebanese Minister of Communications Mohamed Choucair announced the government's retreat from imposing new taxes on Internet communications after widespread angry protests. The government approved these taxes in a session held Thursday, as part of austerity measures aimed at overcoming the financial crisis of the country.

Choucair said in televised remarks that he had contacted Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri, who asked him to declare the tax on Internet connections. The cost of telecommunications in Lebanon is among the highest in the region.

The Lebanese government's retreat from charging $ 6 a month for VoIP calls came after demonstrations marched through several areas in the capital Beirut and other cities to protest taxes the government plans to include in the country's public budget.

The demonstrators carried flags of their country, chanted slogans condemning the ruling political class and called for fighting corruption. Among the slogans were "The people want to overthrow the regime."

Large areas
In addition to the capital, the protests have affected many areas in the north, south and the Bekaa, where demonstrators blocked the main roads with rubber tires to reject the economic and living conditions in the country.

Al-Jazeera's correspondent in Lebanon, Ehab Al-Okda, said that an angry popular mood was formed on the Lebanese street. Thousands of Lebanese are currently demonstrating in Riad El Solh Square, where the government headquarters is in the center of the capital. Protesters say the government has imposed new taxes on the poor and middle class, and say rampant corruption has brought the country to its economic and financial crisis.

The protesters insist not to leave the street, they say, not only want the government to retreat from the new taxes, but also to drop the government. Lebanese Minister of Education Akram Chehayeb decided to close schools and universities on Friday for fear of protests spreading, especially after the General Labor Union called for a strike to coincide with a government session to be held on Friday at the presidential palace.

Street curse
Lebanon's street curse has escalated in recent weeks over the deterioration of the value of the local currency, which has depreciated on the black market against the dollar, and banks have imposed a commission on the dollar's tight market.

It is noteworthy that the Lebanese government has been discussing since the days of the draft budget for 2020, which will include the imposition of new taxes to finance the deficit of the general budget, including raising taxes on tobacco and fuel and increase the value-added tax gradually.