The newspaper "Al-Liwaa" reported: The country has entered into a holiday for the Feast of the Annunciation of "Our Lady Mary," which will continue until next Monday, alongside the weekend holiday, amid an escalating crisis regarding the dollar and fuel prices that have entered a race toward depletion, leading to a return to the black market. The exchange rate of the green currency has seen unreasonable hikes in the black market following the indictment of the brother of the Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon, Raja Salameh, by Judge Nicolas Mansour in Mount Lebanon. The governor, Riad Salameh, has been summoned for a hearing next Thursday on accusations that led to his brother's detention, namely, illicit enrichment and money laundering.
Regardless of the judicial developments, which are unpredictable, Minister of Energy Walid Fayad was quoted as saying he does not anticipate a crisis in the fuel market. Political sources indicated that the illegal measures taken by Judge Ghada Aoun against the banking sector hinder the government's mission to implement the economic recovery plan and severely impact the intended agreement with the International Monetary Fund to help Lebanon resolve its financial and economic crisis.
They stated that the actions and summonses for the heads of several banks to be interrogated before Judge Aoun have become evident, aiming to blackmail the government to comply with the demands of the leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, MP Gebran Bassil, for a series of appointments and changes in key state positions before the end of the current term, including the replacement of Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh, a demand rejected by Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Speaker Nabih Berri, and several political factions.
Sources noticed populist motives behind current events, primarily to stir the sentiments of supporters of the Free Patriotic Movement, misleading them with false achievements to benefit the movement in the upcoming elections while displaying the clearly destructive trend of such actions, as facts have proven the falsity of the movement's claims and the fabrications it promotes.
The sources indicated that the approach of illegitimate and retaliatory pursuits against some in the banking sector, based on the political affiliations of the banks, and amid a complete silence from the Supreme Judicial Council, particularly from the head of judicial inspection and the public prosecutor, raises several questions about the reasons for this silence, its objectives, and its negative impacts on the council's credibility and reputation, as well as the potential public backlash this could provoke, affecting the overall situation in the country.
The possibility of gasoline deliveries today was noted, with prices expected to rise above 25,000 Lebanese pounds per canister. These developments come at a time when the committee formed by the Cabinet, chaired by Justice Minister Henry Khoury and including judges and bankers, has not yet reached a consensus on addressing the conflict between certain judiciary members and the banks.
It remains unclear whether the committee will reach a settlement before the inquiry session designated for Salameh, scheduled to invite him to attend a Cabinet meeting next Wednesday. There are indications that the president did not propose changing the judicial leadership, including the head of the Supreme Judicial Council, Suhail Aboud, and the public prosecutor, Ghasan Oueidat, and is not aware of any such intentions.
It has been reported that the Cabinet, which will hold its next session next Wednesday, will discuss the views of the Minister of Displaced Persons, Issam Sharafeddine, regarding the troubled banking sector: first, the possibility of merging the failing Lebanese banks or having them acquired by Arab or international banks; second, the investment of Lebanese state assets. Minister Sharafeddine requested to include his views in proposing a solution to the deposit issue and the banks' difficulties.
### Indictment Against Gemayel
Five months after the "Tayyouna events," the government commissioner at the military court, Judge Fadi Akiki, has indicted the President of the Lebanese Forces party, Samir Geagea, on charges of murder, attempted murder, and inciting sectarian strife. Akiki referred his indictment to the first military investigating judge, Fadi Sawwan, requesting to interrogate Geagea. Akiki had previously indicted 68 individuals, among whom were 18 detained, before Sawwan decided to release some of them.
The Lebanese Forces party announced that judicial circles were surprised on the morning of March 22 by a new indictment from Judge Fadi Akiki against their leader, Samir Geagea, for several criminal offenses. Legal representatives in the Ain al-Ramaneh case had previously filed a complaint against Judge Akiki for various infringements.
The Lebanese Forces viewed these practices as a "systematic destruction of justice and judiciary in Lebanon" by certain judges responding to some political parties, especially Hezbollah and the Free Patriotic Movement, to seek revenge on their political opponents. They appealed to the head of the Supreme Judicial Council and the public prosecutor to intervene immediately and put an end to these bizarre practices that threaten to destroy what remains of the judiciary and institutions in Lebanon.
In this context, President Michel Aoun confirmed to his visitors his commitment to continue the fight against corruption despite attempts by some parties to obstruct this effort, which has been evident for two years in his insistence on investigating the accounts of the Central Bank of Lebanon. He stated that some decisions are delayed in the Cabinet due to a lack of a two-thirds majority, but nevertheless, they succeeded in approving projects to extract gas and oil where gas was found, although international pressures prevented further progress. Aoun noted Lebanon's success in clearing its territories of terrorists, enacting the election law, and achieving financial order through budget approvals, in addition to filling the void in the diplomatic body before the worsening of the economic crisis.
Aoun concluded by mentioning the continued obstruction by some parties and their failure to implement measures to halt the ongoing financial collapse, citing the lack of approval of capital control as an example, reaffirming that Lebanon must rise again.
### Judicial Actions
In the same judicial vein, Judge Ghada Aoun issued a decision to notify customs to prohibit the transfer and movement of funds outside Lebanon for the banks: Auditors, Beirut, and MLOM, excluding the purchase of wheat, fuels, and transfers to students.
### Legislative Session on Tuesday
On the legislative front, President Berri called for a general session next Tuesday at the UNESCO Palace to study and approve draft laws and proposals listed on the agenda, including 30 items. He also invited the finance, budget, and administration committees to a joint session next Monday to review a proposal for exceptional and temporary controls on banking transfers and cash withdrawals (capital control). This legislative session is expected to be the last before the elections, considering the study of the budget project if it is ready, as expected, after the finance committee concluded the review of ministries and administrations' budgets and began working on the legal articles, although the committee requires the submission of accounts to link any approval of the budget to a recovery plan.
The agenda includes 30 items, foremost among them being the subject of opening an additional credit in the budgets of the ministries of interior and municipalities to fund the upcoming parliamentary elections amounting to 300 billion Lebanese pounds, extending the term of municipalities and local councils until 2023, and student dollars, which the president had previously returned for comments. Regarding the capital control issue, despite existing disagreements, Berri's call for a session for joint committees to study it, in agreement with the participating deputies during his presidency of the council's bureau, opens the door for its possible inclusion in the general session if the joint committees reach a final draft.
### Aoun and Mikati
President Aoun reviewed with Prime Minister Najib Mikati the general situation in the country in light of recent developments and Cabinet discussions regarding vital and social issues. Mikati briefed the president on the objectives of his visit to Qatar today (Friday).
Mikati chaired a meeting yesterday at the Grand Serail with the ministerial committee concerned with food security, with the participation of relevant union sectors. They discussed the provision of staple foods and essential consumer materials that have been slightly scarce in the markets due to the war in Ukraine. The relevant parties requested that the prime minister contact international entities that halted food and oil exports to allow for the export of small quantities, as Lebanon does not import massive quantities.
After the meeting, Economy Minister Amin Salam reported that the Ministry of Economy provided a comprehensive report on the essential materials available, including wheat, sugar, and vegetable oils, presenting a complete proposal detailing the annual consumption and currently available stocks. The private sector representatives assured that aside from the estimated shortages in wheat, vegetable oils, and sugar, all other essential materials are available. They agreed on a framework to ensure these materials reach Lebanon through collective efforts, avoiding any shortages. A broader proposal will be discussed next week in the Cabinet regarding a plan to rationalize and develop the agricultural sector to increase the quantities of soft wheat cultivated in Lebanon.
In relation to the payment method in supermarkets employing a 50% cash and 50% card mechanism, Prime Minister Mikati emphasized the necessity of finding a solution to this matter, ensuring that a communication line will be established with the Central Bank to ease the burden on supermarkets while simultaneously assisting consumers. Discussions on this issue will continue until next week, with hopes of reaching a positive outcome to provide relief to citizens.
Regarding the preparations for Ramadan, he stated they will collaborate with the private sector to provide a price list to be published on the Ministry of Economy's platform, aiming for similar pricing across all supermarkets, to be announced after the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
### Iranian Move
In the context of the Western and regional diplomatic movements, Iranian Foreign Minister Hussein Amir Abdollahian pre-empted the position emerging from the Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers' meeting scheduled for this Sunday in Riyadh, regarding the normalization of relations between the Gulf states and Lebanon, paving the way for the return of ambassadors. He arrived in Beirut from Damascus, where he held a series of meetings culminating with President Aoun today, after his appointment was postponed due to the Iranian minister’s delay in Damascus.
He visited Prime Minister Mikati yesterday evening, after meeting President Berri, then met Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib, expressing optimism for Lebanon. On the regional issue, Abdollahian stated: "We welcome the return of normal relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and we hope the Saudis will act in a manner that serves the interests of this region." He condemned wars, whether in Ukraine, Yemen, Afghanistan, or elsewhere.
On the Vienna negotiations, Abdollahian remarked: "We are ready to reach a strong and sustainable agreement, but not at the cost of crossing Iran's red lines."
### Electoral Preparations
Electorally, the first official list for the elections in the first southern district, Sidon-Jezine, was registered yesterday under the title: "Moderation is Our Strength," including Nabih Zahrat for Sidon, and current MP Ibrahim Azar from the Development and Liberation bloc for Jezzine, with Joseph Skaf for the Catholic seat.
### Hazardous Materials at Zouk Power Plant
As with many topics raised, there seems to be a dispute between Interior and Municipalities Minister Bassam Mawlawi, who submitted a report to the Cabinet expressing security concerns regarding potential dangers at the Zouk thermal plant, requiring urgent preventive measures. On the other hand, Electricite du Liban stated that the Zouk plant has been operational for 35 years, and the institution has installed a hydrogen production station that adheres to global safety standards and has contracted a German company for proper disposal of expired materials, welcoming inspections by any committee or security body on all plant facilities.
The mayor of Zouk Mikael, Elias Baayoun, stated that the Lebanese Army will inspect the site, and if explosives are found, they will handle them appropriately.
### Fuel Prices Rise Again
On the living standards front, fuel prices soared yesterday after the Ministry of Energy and Water set new prices for diesel and gas. The price of a diesel canister rose to 42,000 Lebanese pounds, and the price of a gas cylinder went up to 19,000 pounds. The new price for gasoline has not yet been announced, pending efforts by Energy Minister Walid Fayad, who held a meeting with Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh to discuss a solution for the gasoline issue.
The prices have reached the following:
- Diesel: 522,000 pounds
- Gas: 319,000 pounds
Amid the rise in exchange rates, most gas stations closed yesterday, leading to long queues of cars at the few stations that decided to open, adopting measures for dispensing only one canister to preserve stock. It is noted that many station owners intend to stockpile existing goods for resale when prices increase, according to those following the issue. Station owners have threatened to close, declaring their refusal to receive gasoline in dollars, as they cannot purchase it in hard currency while selling it in Lebanese pounds, urgently calling on Minister Walid Fayad and the government to resolve this issue between them, the importing companies, and the Central Bank to avoid a new crisis.
### Health Update
On the health front, the Ministry of Health reported in its daily update 411 new COVID-19 infections and 4 deaths in the past 24 hours, raising the cumulative total to 1,089,830 confirmed cases since February 21, 2020.
