BEIRUT: Protesters in Beirut on Saturday carried banners expressing their objections to the granting on Jan. 21 of a confidence vote on the government of Hassan Diab.
They consider the new government an extension of previous ones accused of corruption. Streets leading to the Parliament were blocked by high concrete walls to ward off any attempt to break through the security cordon around the building.
Parliament is expected to hold legislative sessions over two days from Monday to discuss the 2020 budget that was prepared by the former government of Saad Hariri before it resigned on Oct. 29 under pressure from peaceful demonstrations.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said Parliament cannot discuss any task before voting on the 2020 budget plan. This means the confidence vote cannot be held before the budget is endorsed.
Former Prime Minister Najib Mikati said the new government has to 鈥渨ork on a new draft budget that includes reform plans, with a timeline to implement them.鈥�
Activist Mohammed Kassem told Arab News: 鈥淎ll signs indicate that Diab鈥檚 government will head to Parliament to endorse the previous government鈥檚 budget that鈥檚 full of flaws, especially with regards to the reform pledge.鈥�
He said: 鈥淧rotesters will step up their actions on the streets until they get a rescue plan, end banks鈥� policies and their restrictions on people鈥檚 deposits, end the Central Bank鈥檚 financial policies, and achieve the independence of the judiciary so judges will be able to handle cases with full transparency, especially ones related to recovering embezzled public assets.鈥�
He added: 鈥淎ctivists are trying to forbid political parties from riding the wave of the revolution, and are trying to limit rioting, which has characterized many protests.鈥�
Kassem called on the authorities to protect protesters rather than attack them. He said protesters will remain on the streets to change Lebanon from a 鈥渃ountry of banks and money exchange to a productive country.鈥�
There has been leaked information that the government will propose a five-month contingency plan to reform the judiciary; fight illicit enrichment, corruption and economic crime; and modernize public institutions.