Lebanon's tax and cost crisis: Protesters again in central Beirut after night protests

Demonstrators returned Friday morning to the center of Beirut to demand economic reforms and condemn the high cost and new taxes that the government planned to impose within the framework of the new budget.

Al-Jazeera correspondent Johnny Tanios said that dozens of protesters gathered this morning, hours after the security forces evacuated the city center of the protesters who took to the streets after the disclosure of the government's intention to include the new budget taxes, some of which are targeted to connect to the Internet, including the messaging service "WhatsApp".

He added that the return of the protesters to the center of Beirut, although in small numbers compared to the numbers that came out last night, comes amid calls to continue the demonstration, and coincides with the noise of the General Labor Union in Lebanon to a general strike and the closure of schools.

The correspondent said that some of the roads that were blocked by protesters in areas near Beirut, as well as in the south and north, Kesrouan and Mount Lebanon are still blocked until this morning.

Earlier in the day, bulldozers removed obstacles from dawn clashes between security forces and demonstrators, injuring 26 protesters and sixty internal security forces.

The demonstrations, which took place last night over most of Lebanon, and the correspondent of the island said that some protesters raised slogans calling for the downfall of the government.

He pointed out that the insecurity took place in some of the protest sites, and pointed out that the clashes that took place at dawn led to the closure of Riad el-Solh Square.

Security forces were quoted as saying that some demonstrators attacked public and private properties and security personnel, while demonstrators said that security forces assaulted them, injuring dozens of them.

The government is retreating
In the face of the demonstrations, Lebanese Minister of Communications Mohamed Choucair announced at night that the tax on WhatsApp was withdrawn at the request of Prime Minister Hariri.

The demonstrations began hours after the Minister of Information Jamal al-Jarrah announced the government to impose a tax on communication via mobile applications, including the application of WhatsApp, to be effective from January.

The Lebanese government has been trying to impose this tax to save about $ 200 million annually, although the cost of communications in Lebanon is one of the highest in the region.

Al-Jazeera correspondent in Lebanon said that the government will meet this afternoon to discuss these repercussions in light of the protests and strikes in the country.

Earlier this week, the Lebanese government approved the lifting of duties on imported tobacco and tobacco produced domestically, and there are proposals for new taxes on hydrocarbons, and gradually increase the value-added tax.

In a report published yesterday, the International Monetary Fund said its mission visited Lebanon and suggested that the authorities include financial measures to increase the value-added tax, expand the tax base, remove exemptions, raise the tax on hydrocarbons, and lift subsidies on the electricity sector, which costs the state treasury sums. .