The streets of Lebanon have once again erupted with protests following the announcement of the end of the fuel subsidy.
After the Wednesday decision by the Central Bank of Lebanon to stop subsidizing fuel, people across the country took to the streets, blocking various roads in protest.
The unrest continues on Thursday. In the morning, protesters blocked the Kfar Roummane-Nabatieh road, Naameh Highway, the Choueifat road, the Dahr El-Ein road in Koura, the Tripoli-Akkar road, among other roads.
The protesters rejected the lifting of the fuel subsidy, which is expected to cause the prices of fuel to skyrocket amid crippling economic conditions.
Meanwhile, gas stations are seeing more traffic than usual as many people are trying to buy fuel before the official price list is announced by the Energy Ministry later on Thursday.
On that note, caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab has called for an emergency ministerial meeting in the afternoon to discuss the central bank’s move, saying that the decision to end the fuel subsidy was “against the law.”
In parallel to Diab’s move, President Michel Aoun has summoned Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh over his overnight decision to lift the subsidy.
