Protests erupt across Lebanon as government scrambles to rein in crumbling currency
Following the sectarian protests that took place a few days ago, Lebanon's crumbling currency united the Lebanese in a cross-sectarian protests in various Lebanese cities.
BEIRUT — “There is no future to speak of, to just shut up and sit at home for,” a protester named Ali, who declined to give his last name for security reasons, told Al-Monitor. “The people who had a salary of [$1,000 or $1,300], it became now $100!”
In scenes that echoed the spontaneous start of Lebanon’s protests on Oct. 17, thousands of Lebanese from all walks of life and sects poured into the streets of Beirut and nearly every other major city in Lebanon the night of June 11. They set fire to banks, blocked roads and voiced deep frustrations with the political establishment backing Prime Minister Hassan Diab’s government over the Lebanese pound’s reported drop of around 25% in value on the parallel market against the dollar in the previous two days.
On June 12, Diab held an emergency Cabinet session during which temporary solutions to limit the economic crisis were agreed upon.
“It’s not about only the dollar issue,” business owner and protester Abed el-Hejazi told Al-Monitor. “It’s that you are facing daily problems like securing your family food, education. Everything is corrupted.”
