Responsible economic sources informed "Al-Joumhouria" that a senior official from an international financial institution recently spoke about what he called "serious opportunities for Lebanon to close the chapter of its crisis," advising Lebanese people to seize them. The international financial institutions will stand by them and are ready to provide assistance to help overcome the difficulties being faced and to lighten the burden on the Lebanese.
The sources noted, according to what they heard from the international financial official, that "all of this depends on the actions of the new political administration in Lebanon, which will be determined by the parliamentary elections, to set a mandatory treatment program for the crisis in Lebanon, which consists of a series of urgent steps:
First, forming a new Lebanese government that instills confidence in the international community.
Second, developing the international perspective on Lebanon, which is currently limited to standing by the Lebanese people and providing what can help them withstand the crisis, independent of the authorities. This development is based on the political authority's initiative to prove its credibility in regaining international trust by immediately fulfilling reform commitments in various areas, primarily combating corruption, holding the corrupt accountable, purging the administration, and removing them from positions of responsibility and decision-making.
Third, expediting the implementation of the requirements of the cooperation program with the International Monetary Fund and fulfilling the commitments of the Lebanese government in this regard, particularly regarding the final approval of the recovery and economic revival plan, as well as the passage of a set of laws that constitute the foundations of the cooperation program with the IMF, especially the capital control law, and the banking secrecy law, culminating in the liberalization of the exchange rate and re-evaluating the administration's status, leading to the restructuring of the banking sector. Most importantly, approving a general budget that addresses the requirements for change and reform, rather than a mere numerical budget, as described regarding the general budget prepared by the government of President Najib Mikati.
It is worth noting in this context that international financial levels are surprised by the delay in approving the capital control law, while at the same time not supporting any tendency from within Lebanon to burden depositors with the effects of the crisis and the burden of addressing it.
Fourth, the new Lebanese government is required to provide reassurances to all of Lebanon's friends abroad and attract them further toward providing aid to Lebanon. The sources note in this regard that the recently established Saudi-French fund has the potential to develop further and become more comprehensive if the new Lebanese government manages Lebanon in a manner different from what was prevailing in the previous period. The way to achieve this is determined by reform steps and measures that must be undertaken promptly, especially concerning the appointments of regulatory bodies for sectors such as telecommunications, civil aviation, or electricity. The latter, particularly the electricity sector, urgently needs to be put on the path to real treatment through the implementation of related laws and an emergency plan to compensate for the "electricity bankruptcy" that Lebanon has been suffering for a long time, removing this file from being one of the most depleting and wasteful sources. Additionally, sending a clear and assured image of an honest, independent, and trustworthy Lebanese judiciary, free from politicization and interventions from this or that political side, is also essential.
