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Capital controls in Lebanon: What to expect in 2023

The Beirut Bar Association is preparing two draft laws, one of which will provide a more appropriate framework for implementation.

Capital controls in Lebanon: What to expect in 2023

MPs have been called upon to resume debate on the bill establishing formal capital controls, starting Thursday. (Credit: Illustrative photo via Mehaniq/Bigstock)

The first week of 2023 has brought the first big economic file back on the table for Lebanese MPs sitting in Parliament’s joint committees. They were called by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, to resume debates Thursday on the controversial draft law establishing a formal capital control.The timing of Berri’s request surprised some MPs. Among them was the chairman of the Finance and Budget Committee, Ibrahim Kanaan (Free Patriotic Movement/Metn), who did not expect the first meeting on capital controls in 2023 to take place this week. “The last meeting was held before the holidays and the discussions were focused on exceptions,” he told L’Orient-Le Jour. “That was on Dec. 13, and the MPs are still examining article 4 of the text, which has 14 exceptions,” said Diana Menhem, the managing director of Kulluna Irada, a political advocacy...
The first week of 2023 has brought the first big economic file back on the table for Lebanese MPs sitting in Parliament’s joint committees. They were called by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, to resume debates Thursday on the controversial draft law establishing a formal capital control.The timing of Berri’s request surprised some MPs. Among them was the chairman of the Finance and Budget Committee, Ibrahim Kanaan (Free Patriotic Movement/Metn), who did not expect the first meeting on capital controls in 2023 to take place this week. “The last meeting was held before the holidays and the discussions were focused on exceptions,” he told L’Orient-Le Jour. “That was on Dec. 13, and the MPs are still examining article 4 of the text, which has 14 exceptions,” said Diana Menhem, the managing director of Kulluna Irada, a political...