BDL: Looking back at Lebanon’s central bank governors through the years

BEIRUT – The leadership of Lebanon’s central bank, Banque Du Liban (BDL), has been held by Wassim Mansouri on an interim basis since August 2023. For weeks, heated negotiations have been underway as the country looks to appoint a new official governor, following Riad Salameh’s five consecutive terms at the helm of the institution, and whose legacy is now widely associated with the economic crisis and several allegations of illicit enrichment and embezzlement.The stakes are high: beyond its traditional roles in monetary policy and banking regulation, the next governor — often referred to as the "second Maronite president" (as the position is traditionally reserved for a member of this Christian community) — will also be expected to address several critical issues.These include participating in negotiations with the International...