Forces of Change MPs during a meeting with Nabih Berri's parliamentary group, on Sept. 13, 2022. (Photo credit: Hassan Ibrahim/Flickr/Lebanese Parliament)
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The One Lebanon Coalition, the National Federation of Trade Unions and Employees in Lebanon and other civil bodies called for a sit-in at Parliament Wednesday to protest the day’s session discussing the 2022 draft budget law. Parliament’s Finance and Budget Committee finished its review and forwarded the draft budget to the full parliamentary assembly in late August, despite committee members not reaching a consensus on all issues, including the exchange rate at which customs tariffs are set. The Internal Security Forces preemptively announced that the streets surrounding Parliament would be closed and evacuated Wednesday from 7:00 a.m. and for the duration of the sessions. The adoption of a credible and balanced budget is among the reforms mandated by the International Monetary Fund to allow Lebanon to access a multi-billion dollar aid package. Whether the proposed budget meets IMF criteria remains to be seen as the agency criticized Lebanon’s attempt at amending the banking secrecy law – another reform stipulated in its April staff-level agreement.
Forces of Change bloc MPs met with members of the Free Patriotic Movement bloc, the Renewal group, the Amal Movement and Hezbollah, continuing the first round of meetings in their initiative to elect “a president who is outside the [traditional] political criteria,” Beirut MP Paula Yacoubian said. Amal MP Ali Hassan Khalil noted that there are still no names on the table, however, because “it is too early to talk about it.” Renewal bloc MP Fouad Makhzoumi described his ideal future head of state as “a sovereign president, able to impose appropriate solutions to this crisis,” matching the reformist criteria set by other bloc members. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, however, prioritized a presidential candidate with “Muslim, Christian and national acceptability.” Forces of Change MP Michel Douaihy said, “It is necessary that we meet everyone despite the political disagreements, to prevent any presidential vacancy,” amid fears of no successor to President Michel Aoun being named. Aoun restated on Tuesday his willingness to cede the presidency at the end of his term under the caveat that no “conspiracy is taking place,” emphasizing that a caretaker government “cannot assume the prerogatives” of the president. Concerns over an executive power vacuum reverberated from domestic to international politics as French and Saudi diplomats reportedly discussed the issue in Paris, agreeing on the need for a consensus candidate.
Caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi stated there were plans to “increase military and security measures” in Tripoli after a Central Security Council meeting was called in response to recent deadly clashes in the area. The measures are part of a “sustainable” security plan devised for North Lebanon days after lethal shootings, allegedly involving military-grade weapons, killed four people and injured several others. A Lebanese Army statement on last week’s shooting said the altercation was instigated by a man “with a criminal and terrorist background” and three others who opened fire on a Tripoli cell phone store. The motive remains unclear, though a security source told L’Orient Today that the assault could be linked to “cells financing armed groups in the city.” Mawlawi did not disclose any details on the new security plan. Tripoli “goes from one tragedy to another, amid total indifference from the state,” Khaldoun Sharif, a political scientist from the northern city, told L’Orient Today, adding that extremist groups “feed on this weakness.” A former security official commenting on the shootings shared similar views, saying that “groups are trying to take advantage of the difficult situation in Lebanon to destroy what remains of the country’s stability.”
Five children and an adult drowned when their irregular migration boat, which had reportedly set off from Lebanon, sank off the coast of Turkey, the Turkish coast guard said Tuesday. The more than 70 people aboard the boat had reportedly been hoping to reach Italy. Turkish authorities on Tuesday were searching for those still missing. The Lebanese Army said Tuesday that it prevented another irregular sea migration from a Tripoli port the previous day, and had arrested 85 people. Security forces have recently thwarted multiple irregular emigration attempts, which have increased amid Lebanon’s economic collapse. While some irregular migrants may evade Lebanese authorities, they are still prone to interception by foreign officials. Several dozen migrants from Lebanon who were rescued by Greek authorities after being stranded on a boat depleted of food, water and fuel between the Greek and Maltese coasts were reportedly detained, the migrants’ relatives said during a protest calling for their release. Clandestine travelers face perils in an attempt at a better life away from Lebanon’s economic woes. One of the boat’s passengers, a four-year-old child, died in transit to a Greek hospital.
In case you missed it, here’s our must-read story from yesterday: “Summer of 1982: A Lebanese tragedy in five acts”
Compiled by Abbas Mahfouz