Lebanese Demonstrate Against France’s Financial Aid to Current Gov’t
BEIRUT (Dispatches) – Protesters demonstrated near the French embassy in Lebanon on Wednesday asking French president not to provide any financial aid to Lebanon in the presence of the current ruling political class, local media reported.
Protesters said that any financial support for Lebanon will go to the pockets of corrupt politicians without being used to save the country’s deteriorating economy, according to Elnashra, an online independent newspaper.
The protests come in parallel to the meeting of the International Support Group for Lebanon which is taking place in France to discuss ways of supporting Lebanon in its current crisis.
The French foreign ministry announced on Monday that it will help the protests-hit country quickly create a "credible” government able to restore stability and bring its economy back on track.
Lebanon has been facing a very tough economic situation because of failing policies of successive governments which led to the impoverishment of the people.
Lebanese officials have been incapable of undertaking necessary reform measures to solve economic and financial issues in the country, prompting a nationwide protest started on Oct. 17 aiming at changing the current political government.
This, in addition to other factors, caused great challenges facing local companies who have not been able to operate normally to even cover their basic expenses.
The protests come as Lebanese Labor Minister Camille Abousleiman says 70 companies in Lebanon will lay off employees very soon, the National News Agency reported.
"Around 70 companies submitted a request to the ministry during the past 10 days for laying off a big number of employees, but we are negotiating with them to reduce the number of the fired people,” Abousleiman said during a press conference.
Abousleiman urged the companies not to fire employees without further thoughts because this will cause further deterioration in the living conditions of thousands of Lebanese families.
He added that his ministry is trying to come up with a law that protects employees amid the current exceptional crisis prevailing in the country.
On Monday, anti-government protesters clashed with soldiers and pro-government demonstrators in front of a politician’s house in Tripoli, northern Lebanon.
Protesters angry at the political establishment gathered in front of the home of lawmaker Faisal Karami where they faced off with a group of his supporters.
The two sides threw stones and glass bottles at each other while the army and security forces attempted to keep them apart.
Protesters said that any financial support for Lebanon will go to the pockets of corrupt politicians without being used to save the country’s deteriorating economy, according to Elnashra, an online independent newspaper.
The protests come in parallel to the meeting of the International Support Group for Lebanon which is taking place in France to discuss ways of supporting Lebanon in its current crisis.
The French foreign ministry announced on Monday that it will help the protests-hit country quickly create a "credible” government able to restore stability and bring its economy back on track.
Lebanon has been facing a very tough economic situation because of failing policies of successive governments which led to the impoverishment of the people.
Lebanese officials have been incapable of undertaking necessary reform measures to solve economic and financial issues in the country, prompting a nationwide protest started on Oct. 17 aiming at changing the current political government.
This, in addition to other factors, caused great challenges facing local companies who have not been able to operate normally to even cover their basic expenses.
The protests come as Lebanese Labor Minister Camille Abousleiman says 70 companies in Lebanon will lay off employees very soon, the National News Agency reported.
"Around 70 companies submitted a request to the ministry during the past 10 days for laying off a big number of employees, but we are negotiating with them to reduce the number of the fired people,” Abousleiman said during a press conference.
Abousleiman urged the companies not to fire employees without further thoughts because this will cause further deterioration in the living conditions of thousands of Lebanese families.
He added that his ministry is trying to come up with a law that protects employees amid the current exceptional crisis prevailing in the country.
On Monday, anti-government protesters clashed with soldiers and pro-government demonstrators in front of a politician’s house in Tripoli, northern Lebanon.
Protesters angry at the political establishment gathered in front of the home of lawmaker Faisal Karami where they faced off with a group of his supporters.
The two sides threw stones and glass bottles at each other while the army and security forces attempted to keep them apart.