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Mass protests in Lebanon continue

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What happened: Mass protests have been taking place in Lebanon for more than a week against government corruption, economic mismanagement and dissatisfaction with poor public services.  It is estimated 1.3 million people – 20 per cent of the population, from across the country have participated in the demonstrations.

  • The immediate spark for the protests was a government plan to tax WhatsApp, FaceTime and Facebook Messager, calls that are usually free over the internet. That plan has  been scrapped.
  • Earlier this week Prime Minister Hariri suggested a range of economic reforms including a commitment to add no new taxes this year, a $160m fund for housing and efforts to reduce public debt. He also said there would be substantial cuts to parliamentarians salaries in an effort to placate the protestors and ease their financial burden. So far none of these concessions has decreased public anger.

Context: At 155 per cent of GDP, Lebanon has high Government debt, economic growth of 0.3 per cent, significant poverty and unemployment of 6.6 per cent.

  • The last time there were protests in Lebanon was 2015 when people demonstrated again inadequate sanitation and water pollution. The latest protests, as well as being larger and more widespread, have also for the first time cut across traditional religious and sectarian loyalties with all political leaders being blamed.
  • Other factors that have angered the protestors include the revelation last month that Prime Minister Hariri (while out of government in 2013) gave a South African bikini model $16million. The story coincided with the Lebanese government declaring another economic state of emergency.
  • Last week the country experienced severe wildfires. The Fire Services were ill equipped to cope because of faulty equipment due to lack of government investment.  Fortunately the weather changed and rain prevented further disaster.
  • The protests have also taken place in key areas of Hezbollah support, including in Nabatiyeh, Bint Jbeil and Tyre. Even the Hezbollah run Al-Manar TV has reported the protests and allowed interviewees to express their criticism of Hezbollah. Hezbollah’s leadership faces a dilemma, they want to support that aims of the protestors and oppose the new taxes. However they do not want to lose their influence over the current government in which it has three ministers.

Looking ahead: The protestors are demanding the appointment of a technocratic Government to pass a new electoral law to reform the current system which is based strictly on sectarian representation, but the existing parties in Government will resist that move as it would undermine their power structures and system of patronage.

  • Prime Minister Hariri is likely to offer more concessions in the days ahead in the hope that he can reduce public anger and break the momentum that has caused so much public outcry. He can only tackle the immediate economic crisis with loans and support from outside Lebanon and that will depend on how much confidence he can generate in the ability of his Government to function.