Illustrative photo: The facade of the Banque du Liban with graffiti presumably left by a group supporting the depositors' cause, January 30, 2025. Photo P.H.B.
Is the race for the central bank, Banque du Liban (BDL), governorship already decided? Although Finance Minister Yassine Jaber previously announced that the appointment could occur before the end of March, and just weeks ago, the list of credible contenders for the position was still growing, reaching nearly a dozen names, several political, banking and informed sources suggest that the outcome now appears to be all but certain. "Unless there’s a last-minute twist, it will be Karim Souaid," one source said, confirming L’Orient Le-Jour's information.Souaid, a prominent wealth manager in Beirut and the Gulf and the brother of former deputy and March 14 movement figure Fares Souaid, is said to have made a decisive move. He leveraged his extensive networks and capitalized on the various obstacles that have opportunely hindered his...
Is the race for the central bank, Banque du Liban (BDL), governorship already decided? Although Finance Minister Yassine Jaber previously announced that the appointment could occur before the end of March, and just weeks ago, the list of credible contenders for the position was still growing, reaching nearly a dozen names, several political, banking and informed sources suggest that the outcome now appears to be all but certain. "Unless there’s a last-minute twist, it will be Karim Souaid," one source said, confirming L’Orient Le-Jour's information.Souaid, a prominent wealth manager in Beirut and the Gulf and the brother of former deputy and March 14 movement figure Fares Souaid, is said to have made a decisive move. He leveraged his extensive networks and capitalized on the various obstacles that have opportunely hindered his...