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BEIRUT: The Lebanese await the lifting of the harsh restrictions that were imposed in March after the coronavirus outbreak, with the reopening of popular markets outside the capital and people in masks abroad.
There were four new cases of COVID-19 recorded by the Ministry of Health on Saturday, bringing the total number to 733 since March 26. The death toll is 25.
Fears about the economy appear to have overcome fears about the pandemic, amid layoffs, company closings, and the government turning to the IMF to resolve the country’s financial crisis.
A market trader in the city of Saida said that the life situation had deteriorated terribly. “The prices of goods have doubled, people are reluctant to buy and their purchases are limited to the essentials, although we are in the month of Ramadan and heading to Eid,” he told Arab News.
Popular tourist attractions and businesses have closed, while cafe and bar owners in Beirut can see their facilities being emptied.
The Lebanese pound continues its fight against the US dollar, and there are still differences between official and black market exchange rates. On Saturday, the sale rate of the dollar reached LBP3,800, while its purchase rate was LBP4,000.
President Michel Aoun told Russia’s Sputnik News Agency on Saturday that he understood people’s desire to make “quick and concrete” changes, but said that managing the repercussions of the past 30 years would not happen overnight. .
He also expressed concern about some political forces exploiting anti-corruption street protests. “We will not allow the security situation to deteriorate, while preserving freedom of demonstration and freedom of expression.”
An economic plan was approved by the government a few days ago. His request for IMF assistance has generated a mixed response, especially from the Association of Banks in Lebanon, which rejected the plan and spoke of its “dangers.” He demanded that those who prepared the plan be responsible.
“The local restructuring process as mentioned in the plan would lead to further undermining confidence in Lebanon locally and internationally, as it has trends that flow towards legalization of the state of anarchy,” he warned.
Finance Minister Ghazi Wazni said the association had the right to express its opinion on the plan, which was subject to discussion and amendments in the interest of Lebanon.
“The plan is one of the main points to transform the economy from rentier to productive, and the government will work to support the productive sector, including industry and agriculture,” he added. “We are in a serious and real crisis, and things are heading towards holding an international conference of support groups in exchange for implementing the reforms.”
Development expert Dr. Nasser Yassin said the government’s plan did not take into account social issues. “The positive part of the plan is that it diagnosed the problem well the first time and determined the losses, but the social part was not clear, except for relying on austerity measures, and this is adapted to the IMF, but this means that the policy of Austerity will target poor groups, army compensation, teachers and social benefits, and will therefore target already weak social protection systems, which already suffer from structural disorder and weakness, ”he told Arab News.
Lebanon was in a sensitive stage, he said, as there was “economic collapse” and people were taking to the streets. “It was supposed to be a draft that civil society can voice their opinion on. Now it is up to parliament to discuss it and amend it. “
The director of the Arab Development NGO Network, Ziad Abdel Samad, said the government’s plan was based on assumptions. “It is more like the credentials presented to the IMF and Cedar (a conference for international donors and investors to help Lebanon’s economy), although the main problem is political and the lack of confidence in the authority that wants to implement it,” he told Arab. News. . “Can the government, for example, impose a ban on evading customs duties at border crossings? Will the government be able to place scanners at crossings and prevent smuggling through illegal crossings? There is a quota-based system that will eliminate any project that can be implemented. “
The plan spoke of a safety net, he added, but this was the job of international organizations, not the job of the government. “What is required of the government is to provide a comprehensive protection system for people. And when the plan talks about reducing consumption to reduce imports, we cannot ask people to sacrifice without providing them with a social, educational and health protection system. ”
