Illustration by Guilhem Dorandeu. Photo credits João Sousa and AFP.
Riad Salameh has been arrested. On Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024, the news seemed like the historical final nail in the coffin of a myth. Once considered unsinkable, the former governor of the Central Bank (BDL) has been in disgrace for several years. Quietly, he retired on July 31, 2023, exactly 30 years after joining the exclusive club of central bank governors. Since then, the interim governor, Wassim Manssouri, has taken the helm. Salameh, meanwhile, lives in seclusion, shielded from public view and the ongoing legal issues that continue to make headlines both locally and internationally. While his reign ends in twilight, he had until this point avoided prison. However, today, the man who had enjoyed unconditional support from the political class for decades is finally apprehended by Lebanese justice. It is important to note this arrest is...
Riad Salameh has been arrested. On Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024, the news seemed like the historical final nail in the coffin of a myth. Once considered unsinkable, the former governor of the Central Bank (BDL) has been in disgrace for several years. Quietly, he retired on July 31, 2023, exactly 30 years after joining the exclusive club of central bank governors. Since then, the interim governor, Wassim Manssouri, has taken the helm. Salameh, meanwhile, lives in seclusion, shielded from public view and the ongoing legal issues that continue to make headlines both locally and internationally. While his reign ends in twilight, he had until this point avoided prison. However, today, the man who had enjoyed unconditional support from the political class for decades is finally apprehended by Lebanese justice. It is important to note this arrest...