IMF to return with full team, EDL workers’ strike, Beirut book fair is back: Everything you need to know to start your Thursday

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A full delegation from the International Monetary Fund is expected to come to Lebanon in mid-March to “finalize talks” before a draft agreement can be sent to the IMF board, Deputy Prime Minister Saade Chami said Wednesday. The announcement comes as a smaller IMF team, led by Ernesto Rigo Ramirez, ended a three-day visit to Beirut from Feb. 28 to March 1. The statement by Chami’s office said the Lebanese and IMF teams agreed on steps needed to progress the talks, namely Lebanon passing new laws enacting reforms. These requirements have been known since the beginning of the crisis two years ago, but the government has shown no urgency in performing its duties, while most of the politicians involved in the delay are standing for re-election in May’s parliamentary polls.

Workers at several branches of state-owned Electricité du Liban launched a three-day strike yesterday, which is set to continue today. The head of the EDL employees’ union, Charbel Saleh, is calling for wages to be aligned with those of company contractors, full hospital coverage and for retirement pensions in line with those of other public sector workers, according to a report published by the state-run National News Agency. The union also called on workers to challenge the energy sector reform plan proposed by Energy Minister Walid Fayad, which they say will prioritize the interests of private contractors over EDL employees.

Hezbollah will officially announce the launch of its electoral campaign in four districts this afternoon. In a ceremony presided over by its deputy leader Naim Qassem, the party will launch its campaign operations for the Mount Lebanon III, Mount Lebanon IV, Beirut I and Beirut II districts. In a speech last night party leader Hassan Nasrallah reiterated that nothing will stop the election from taking place as scheduled, before going on to name over a dozen candidates in several constituencies. Candidacy announcements for the May 15 vote have picked up steam in recent days, with Citizens in a State (MMFD) announcing a slate of 52 candidates over the weekend, bringing the number of announced candidates to more than 100. The filing period for candidates to join the race ends in less than two weeks on March 15.

The Beirut Arab International Book Fair starts today. Opening remarks by Salwa Siniora Basseiri, president of the Arab Cultural Club, and Prime Minister Najib Mikati will be delivered at 4 p.m. at the Seaside Arena (formerly known as BIEL). The fair will be open to the public from tomorrow until March 13 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, according to the fair’s Facebook page.

In case you missed it, our must-read article from yesterday: “The Akkar civilians who serve as nighttime vigilantes”