Prime Minister Saad Hariri has announced his resignation in response to persistent protests against corruption and mismanagement in Lebanon. He will submit a request to President Michel Aoun, Hariri said in a brief televised speech. He had reached a dead end in the struggle for a solution to the economic crisis.
Hariri and his cabinet had been looking for ways out of the crisis to put an end to the protests. The riots had ignited on 17 October on the Government's announcement to tax WhatsApp calls. In the meantime, the protests are generally directed against corruption, mismanagement and the country's elites, who have failed to improve people's lives in the 30 years since the end of the civil war. The demonstrators erected roadblocks in the meantime.
Aziz Taher / REUTERS
Demonstrators in Lebanon: Protests over possible taxes on WhatsApp calls
As part of the announced reform plans, salaries of ministers and members of parliament were to be halved. In addition, government institutions should be closed or merged, and no new taxes should be levied next year.
But the protests also continued to deliver on these promises. The demonstrators called for a new political system and a resignation of the entire government. On Monday, government officials said the government wanted to stay in power and prevent the country from drifting into chaos.
Lebanon is struggling with an economic and financial crisis and suffering from the war in neighboring Syria. The national debt amounts to 86 billion US dollar (approximately 77 billion euro), which corresponds to a quota of approximately 150 per cent of the gross domestic product. It is one of the highest debt ratios in the world. Critics accuse the government of having dragged on reforms for years.
