Demonstrators in front of the Grand Serail in Beirut, Feb. 28, 2024. (Credit: Mohammad Yassin)
Dozens of depositors and retired soldiers demonstrated Wednesday in front of the Grand Serail in Beirut, ahead of a cabinet meeting scheduled for 4 p.m. to call for an increase in public sector salaries and end-of-service allowances, and to denounce the government's bank restructuring plan — both issues on the agenda for the cabinet session.
"No to the government's plan to wipe out deposits; Stop stealing deposits; We demand a fair plan to return deposits," read the placards held up by the protesters.
Last Friday, cabinet postponed a scheduled meeting due to internal differences and the blocking of access to the Grand Serail by Lebanese army veterans.
Today's meeting agenda included issues on which there is no unanimity, notably bank restructuring and the distribution of the country's financial losses, estimated at over 70 billion dollars. These two issues have been grouped together in a single bill, whereas the original plan was to divide them into separate texts.
The caretaker cabinet was also expected to study the issue of granting "temporary compensation to all public sector employees and pensioners," at a time when civil servants in many government departments are on strike to demand a pay rise.
The strike was launched after a "productivity bonus" was granted to certain civil service employees, notably those in the Finace Ministry, the Prime Minister's Office, the Office of the President, the Central Inspectorate and the Court of Auditors, while excluding other groups of public sector employees.
Unlike last Friday, cabinet managed to convene on Wednesday, unperturbed by the blockades by army veterans, who were promised that a new pay scale would be studied in the coming months, in line with their demands.
According to Al-Jadeed television, some of the demonstrators had already left the site by 5.30 p.m., while others remain.