Why Did Lebanon Lodge Two Lawsuits Against Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh?
Lebanon took legal action last week by filing domestic and international lawsuits against its embattled Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh.undefined
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
European Team Ends Questioning Lebanon’s Riad Salameh, to Return in April
The European legal team on Friday wrapped up two days of questioning of Lebanon’s Central Bank chief in Beirut in a money-laundering probe linked to the governor, officials said.undefined
Friday, March 17, 2023
Presidential Elections
Hankach: We Are Dealing with a Team that Respects the Constitution Whenever It Wants
Kataeb Lawmaker Elias Hankach considered that the coincidence of Lent (Christian observance) and Ramadan (Muslim observance) could be a message for the Lebanese people to unite.<p style="font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">Kataeb Lawmaker Elias Hankach considered that the coincidence of Lent (Christian observance) and Ramadan (Muslim observance) could be a message for the Lebanese people to unite.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">“The Kataeb Party has never rejected any call for dialogue or meeting. Dialogue is essential at the heart of national action. I believe that no one can reject the invitation of Bkerke for a spiritual retreat. Deputies and parliamentary blocs are the ones responsible for agreeing on a presidential candidate. The presidential elections are a democratic electoral process and do not necessarily have to be consensual,” Hankach said in an interview with LBCI.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">“Parliament Speaker should call for a session to elect a president. They say that the problem is with the Maronite deputies. It is true that the president is Maronite, but he is the head of the Lebanese State, and there is a whole team waiting for international signals to make its decisions,” he noted.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">"We are dealing with a team that disrupted the 11 presidential elections and decides to respect the Constitution whenever it wants. The Kataeb Party will not accept this matter. If the Constitution and the deadlines are not respected then the country will not be saved,” he said.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">Regarding the nomination of the Army Commander, Hanakach said: "There is no doubt that Army Commander Joseph Aoun is one of the names that are strongly presented today, although he is not a candidate and we do not know his political positions. I do not expect the presidential crisis to last until the end of his term, and I believe that there is a possibility of a political breach in May."</p> <p style="font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">Hankach stressed the importance of a electing a president who shall address the major problems in Lebanon such as sovereignty and illegal weapons.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;">“The upcoming president shall have the courage to take the necessary measures in a bid to send positive signals abroad,” he emphasized.</p>
Thursday, March 23, 2023
Kataeb Leader Receives MP Mouawad
Kataeb Leader Samy Gemayel met with MP Michel Mouawad with talks featuring high on the latest developments in Lebanon, namely the presidential elections.<p style="text-align: justify;">Kataeb Leader Samy Gemayel met with MP Michel Mouawad with talks featuring high on the latest developments in Lebanon, namely the presidential elections.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Talks focused on the importance of continuous coordination between opposition forces in a bid to elect a rescue president capable of preventing Lebanon from entering into a downward spiral of collapse.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The meeting was attended by MP Elias Hankach.</p>
Saturday, March 18, 2023
Wronecka Stresses Need for Political Leaders to Show Flexibility and Urgency to Elect President
United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Joanna Wronecka, and the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, briefed the Security Council on Thursday regarding the implementation of resolution 1701 (2006), focusing on the report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, covering the period from November 3, 2022, to February 20, 2023. <p style="text-align: justify;">United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Joanna Wronecka, and the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, briefed the Security Council on Thursday regarding the implementation of resolution 1701 (2006), focusing on the report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, covering the period from November 3, 2022, to February 20, 2023. <br /><br />A statement from Wronecka's office said that the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the International Support Group for Lebanon shared their grave concern about the lack of progress toward the election of a new President since the last briefing last November and stressed the need for political leaders to show flexibility and urgency to elect a President, which is in the interest of the Lebanese people. <br /><br />It added that the fallout from the presidential vacuum, which is approaching its fifth month, is crippling state institutions at a time when the country is in dire need of urgent and effective government action and undermining the country's ability to address pressing social, economic, security and humanitarian challenges at a time when citizens are facing increasing difficulties. <br /><br />Wronecka pointed out several examples of the crises' impact on people's lives, including the rapid depreciation of the Lebanese lira, inflation, decline in purchasing power, high poverty rates, the decline in essential public services, and the increase in public frustration that has led to prolonged strikes, especially in the public sector. <br /><br />She voiced her regret over the lack of efforts made to pass and implement the reforms needed to save the Lebanese economy and put the country on the road to recovery, thus delaying the agreement on a program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in a way that contributes to the stability of the economy. <br /><br />Despite limited resources, the statement commended the Lebanese Armed Forces and the security forces tireless efforts, encouraging more international support to military and security institutions to maintain stability and security in Lebanon. <br /><br />It also welcomed the cooperation between the Lebanese Armed Forces and UNIFIL in southern Lebanon as a pillar of the successful implementation of resolution 1701. </p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The members of the Security Council reiterated their condemnation of the killing of a UNIFIL peacekeeper Al-Aqibiya, last December and stressed "the importance of bringing the perpetrators to justice." <br /><br />The Special Coordinator also stressed that an independent judiciary is central to Lebanon's recovery, hence the need to accelerate impartial and inclusive judicial processes on many outstanding cases, including the tragic explosion at the Port of Beirut. <br /><br />She welcomed "the consensus within the Security Council to promote Lebanon's peace, security, and stability and the willingness of the international community to provide the required support." Still, she stressed that "long-term sustainable solutions must be nationally led and rely on Lebanese leaders." <br /><br />Wronecka stressed that "the United Nations continues to stand by Lebanon and its people."</p>
Thursday, March 16, 2023