Scuffles betweent military and protesters, close to the Parliament HQ in downtown Beirut, on Sept. 26, 2022. (Credit: Mohamed Azakir/Reuters)
BEIRUT — Demonstrators pushed their way close to the Lebanese Parliament building in downtown Beirut Monday morning to protest against the potential adoption of the 2022 draft budget, which MPs are scheduled to vote on today, local TV channels reported.
Less than an hour after the start of the session, local television showed demonstrators, including retired soldiers demanding an improvement in their retirement conditions, pushing their way through an entrance blocked by security forces leading to Nejmeh Square, where Parliament is located. Police and soldiers were seen launching tear gas toward the protesters.
Local TV channel LBCI's footage showed MP Jamil Sayyed among the crowd in front of the Parliament, visibly affected by tear gas fumes. The Al Jadeed TV channel reported that Forces of Change MP Cynthia Zarazir left the parliamentary session to join the protesters.
The MPs are meeting today to adopt the annual state budget, which should have been finalized by the end of 2021. The adoption of a budget is one of the reforms required by the International Monetary Fund to release $3 billion in aid over four years to help lift Lebanon's financial crisis.