Crushed storefronts, burning car tires and clouds of tear gas from police have been recurring elements in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon in recent days. Residents have protested against the tax hikes announced by the government and against alleged corruption. The government has also wanted to tax calls made on the Whatsapp app.

On Saturday, Lebanese Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil agreed with the government to present a final state budget that does not include any increased taxes or fees.

President Michel Aoun promised on twitter that it will be a "reassuring solution" to the economic crisis the country is undergoing.

Government partners want to leave cooperation

Yesterday's message from the finance minister suggests that Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri has been weighted after attacking his partners in the country's coalition government on Friday to make them accept economic changes.

Shortly after Saturday's announcement, Samir Geagea, the Christian leader of one of the ruling parties, went out with his party withdrawing its ministers from the Sunni al-Hariri government. At the same time, Geagea demanded that the entire government be reformed.

Information on a new reform package

On Sunday, information came out that Prime Minister al-Hariri has agreed with his coalition partners on a reform package to tackle the economic crisis in the country, a high-ranking source told Reuters. The goal is for the deficit in next year's state budget to be "close to zero".

Among the measures available are that former and current presidents, ministers and members of parliament get their financial compensation halved. In addition, private banks and the central bank will contribute $ 3.3 billion to the budget, privatize the country's telecom sector and a major overhaul of the targeted electricity sector.