The new Governor of the BDL, Karim Souhaid (center), and the former interim Governor, Wassim Manssouri (to his right), surrounded by the three other BDL Deputy Governors, during the handover ceremony held at the Central Bank on April 4, 2025. (Credit: Fouad Gemayel/OLJ)
After being sworn in on Thursday before President Joseph Aoun, newly appointed Banque du Liban Gov. Karim Souhaid officially assumed office Friday during a handover ceremony at the central bank, marking the start of his six-year term. He succeeds Wassim Mansouri, who returns to his position as first vice governor.In a 12-minute inauguration speech, Souhaid — whose appointment drew skepticism from Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s camp, which abstained from voting with five other ministers during the March 27 Cabinet session — sought to reassure both domestic and international stakeholders of his reformist intentions.He pledged to establish an “independent institution in its decision-making, fortified against any interference … political and from the banking sector and economic actors,” in an effort to prevent conflicts of interest. The...
After being sworn in on Thursday before President Joseph Aoun, newly appointed Banque du Liban Gov. Karim Souhaid officially assumed office Friday during a handover ceremony at the central bank, marking the start of his six-year term. He succeeds Wassim Mansouri, who returns to his position as first vice governor.In a 12-minute inauguration speech, Souhaid — whose appointment drew skepticism from Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s camp, which abstained from voting with five other ministers during the March 27 Cabinet session — sought to reassure both domestic and international stakeholders of his reformist intentions.He pledged to establish an “independent institution in its decision-making, fortified against any interference … political and from the banking sector and economic actors,” in an effort to prevent conflicts of...