Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese people have taken to the streets in response to the government’s plans to impose new taxes. The taxes are a response to the harsh economic crisis in the country, but have still been met with outrage. The widespread strikes have persisted for six days with their calls for revolution.
People are angry at corruption and austerity measures of government. Measures include steps to cut Lebanon’s huge deficit, slashing politicians’ salaries by half and giving financial help to families in poverty.
Lebanon has the third-highest debt burden in the world and struggling with low growth and high debt, and a deteriorating infrastructure has made power cuts and piles of uncollected rubbish part of daily life. Last month an economic emergency was declared.
The government is discussing the 2020 budget and new taxes have been proposed, including on tobacco, gasoline and some social media. Protesting this, thousands of people marched on parliament in Beiru, accusing politicians of mismanaging the economy.
“We are here today because of the rampant corruption that is in our country,” said one protester, Lucien Bourjeily. “The failure of our government to do at least the minimum for our people has given us no other choice than to take the streets.”
Rami, a 24-year-old teacher said on Sunday, “There is nothing in this country that would keep us at home, that would keep us from going down to the streets”.
Initial clashes between small groups of protesters have given way to mass demonstrations with a carnival atmosphere. Families with children, crowds of men on mopeds and motorbikes, young and old have all flocked to squares and streets around the country.
The scale of the protests appears to have taken the government completely by surprise. In an attempt to quell the protests, Saad Hariri, Lebanon’s prime minister, announced a package of reform measures on Monday. They included cutting the salaries of top officials, and abolishing several state institutions.
“The decisions that we made today might not fulfil your goals but for sure it achieves what I have been seeking for two years,” Mr Hariri said.
>Juthy Saha
Huge Protest in Lebanon Against Corruption and Tax Hikes
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