Demonstrations continue in Lebanon

Hariri resigned after popular demonstrations paralyzed Lebanon for two weeks. Roads, schools and banks have been closed. In an effort to save the little support he still has, Hariri left his post on Tuesday afternoon. In a speech last night, Lebanese President Michel Aoun said the coming government should consist of experts and not be based on political affiliation.

As soon as his speech ended, the protesters closed several roads in Beirut, scanning the president's speech was not enough. Many called for a timetable for when a new government could be appointed: "The people demand an explanation of the speech" protesters shouted in a paraphrase of the popular slogan "The people want the regime to fall" heard during the Arab Spring and which has also been shouted during the protests in Lebanon in recent weeks.

Lebanon's political system is based on a division of power between the various religious groups in the country. The President is a Christian, the Prime Minister is a Sunni Muslim and the Speaker of Parliament is a Shia Muslim.

But the protesters who have filled the streets of the country in recent weeks believe that it is the system is sluggish and leads to corruption. The same leaders have been sitting on their posts for decades, dividing power among themselves. At the same time, the corruption means that everyday things like electricity and water supply do not work, that the schools and the medical services have major shortcomings. Although the Lebanese pay big money for community service, their own generator and a private water tank are required to fill in the hours when the state electricity and water are not supplied.

On Friday, the banks in Lebanon opened after being closed for two weeks. To prevent money from flowing out of the country, restrictions were imposed so that account holders can only charge a limited amount of dollars per day, and that bank customers cannot transfer money to foreign banks without "a valid cause".

In recent weeks, speculation about a devaluation of the Lebanese currency - linked to the US dollar - has escalated.