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Series of sit-ins on the road to Baabda coincide with last government meeting

Series of sit-ins on the road to Baabda coincide with last government meeting

Sit-in by activists and cancer patients on the road to the Presidential Palace in Baabda, May 20, 2022. (Credit: Hussam Shbaro/OLJ)

BEIRUT — Multiple sit-ins were held Friday on roads leading to Baabda’s Presidential Palace ahead of the Lebanese cabinet’s last meeting before its relegation to caretaker status with limited decision-making abilities.

Here’s what we know:

    • Activists, including cancer patients and patients with chronic illnesses, responding to a call from Pharmacists’ Syndicate head Joe Salloum and the Barbara Nassar Association For Cancer Patient Support, protested medicine shortages and called for funding to be allotted for the import of drugs. Placards at the protest read: “Cancer patients have the right to uninterrupted treatment”; “I don’t want to die, I want access to treatment”; and, “Stop this social genocide.”

    • Contract employees of the Lebanese University protested to demand full-time positions. The group has held several similar protests, including an extended stay at the Grand Serail.

    • State mobile phone operators, Alfa and Touch, had their employees go on a general strike on Friday to demand an improvement in working conditions, and held a sit-in at Alfa’s headquarters in Furn al-Shubbak.

    • The Cabinet’s last meeting, chaired by President Michel Aoun, began this afternoon with a 133-point agenda that focuses on the results of the recent parliamentary elections, and tackles critical issues such as the economic recovery plan, and increasing taxes and telecommunications tariffs. As of May 22, the government will be considered resigned and will continue functioning under caretaker status with limited decision-making abilities.

BEIRUT — Multiple sit-ins were held Friday on roads leading to Baabda’s Presidential Palace ahead of the Lebanese cabinet’s last meeting before its relegation to caretaker status with limited decision-making abilities.Here’s what we know:    • Activists, including cancer patients and patients with chronic illnesses, responding to a call from Pharmacists’ Syndicate head Joe...