Iran Press/Middle East: The people of Beirut and some other Lebanese cities have taken to the streets Thursday night to protest the increase in taxes and are still protesting against this measure taken by the Saad al- Hariri government.
Lebanon has already witnessed mass demonstrations against the government's economic policies on several occasions, with a new round of protests which are economic in nature.
The demonstrations of the Lebanese people have been peaceful most of the time, demanding to resolve their economic problems and paying attention to the low-income and unemployed stratum of society. The presence of Lebanese people in the streets of the capital and near the Prime Minister's headquarters forced Saad al-Hariri to speak directly with people and protesters.
In his speech on Friday evening, al-Hariri gave his allies and associates in the government a 72-hour deadline to work out a solution to the crisis.
Saad al-Hariri's allies in the government are from the wealthy strata of Lebanon and are trying to create a new source of income by raising taxes. The Lebanese government is facing a shortage of revenue resources due to foreign debt and the rise in different spendings.
Saad al-Hariri's allies 'failure to adopt sound economic policies in conjunction with other groups, including Hezbollah, as well as Saad al-Hariri's over-reliance on foreign states and Saudis' and Europeans' non-adherence to their promises about assisting his government led the Lebanese people to take to the streets.
Minus one percent economic growth ($ 86 billion in foreign debt), 6 percent inflation, 25 percent unemployment, especially among the youth (about 2 million below the poverty line of Lebanon's 6 million population), new taxes and dire economic conditions, are among the causes for new round of the popular protests in Lebanon.
Although the demand and protest of the Lebanese people are sincere and legal, some are trying to exploit this situation and pursue their own political goals by accusing other groups, which its result is targeting the unity and empathy of the multi-ethnic Lebanese community.
In this regard, Lebanese Foreign Minister Jibran Basil said Friday night that some are trying to mount on a sincere public sentiment to achieve their political goals, namely the destruction of the national covenant of government and the elected parliament, which has the right amount of representation (spectrum).
The population composition of Lebanon is multi-ethnic and diverse, with the potential for civil conflicts and Lebanon has experienced civil war many years ago.
In such circumstances, avoidance of politicization, the double and joint effort of the Lebanese government and the parliament that encompasses the will of the various spectra in the country, and the use of domestic capacities is the only viable solution to realize the demands of the Lebanese people and to adjust to the Lebanese economic crisis.
In this regard, General Michel Aoun, President of Lebanon, pledged Friday to a group of protesters, saying, every effort will be made to eliminate the problems of the Lebanese people.
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Lebanon's Hariri gives government 72-hour deadline to act amid nationwide protests
