Lebanese Lira banknotes in an ATM of a bank in Lebanon. (Credit: Archive photo Philippe Hage Boutros/L'Orient-Le Jour)
A year has passed between the initial adoption of the banking reform bill in August 2025 and its review by Parliament last week. By opting for a compromise between the requirements of the Banque du Liban (BDL, Central Bank) and those of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), will MPs this time manage to prevent the legislation from another round of back-and-forth, particularly regarding the division of powers between BDL and the High Banking Authority (HBA), as some government officials are already fearing?A breakthrough on the new recapitalizations?The first sign of a rapprochement with the IMF: Parliament rejected the amendment made by the Finance and Budget Committee to Article 3, which sets out the objectives of the law. BDL Governor Karim Souhaid, in coordination with several members of the committee, notably its chairman Ibrahim...
A year has passed between the initial adoption of the banking reform bill in August 2025 and its review by Parliament last week. By opting for a compromise between the requirements of the Banque du Liban (BDL, Central Bank) and those of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), will MPs this time manage to prevent the legislation from another round of back-and-forth, particularly regarding the division of powers between BDL and the High Banking Authority (HBA), as some government officials are already fearing?A breakthrough on the new recapitalizations?The first sign of a rapprochement with the IMF: Parliament rejected the amendment made by the Finance and Budget Committee to Article 3, which sets out the objectives of the law. BDL Governor Karim Souhaid, in coordination with several members of the committee, notably its chairman Ibrahim...
