BEIRUT: Lebanon’s cabinet approved a package of economic reforms and a 2020 budget with no new taxes on Monday, hoping to appease the thousands of protesters that have taken to the streets for the last five days to demand the government step down.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri described the measures as a “financial coup”, saying no government in Lebanon’s history has taken such steps before.

As Hariri’s speech was aired live on all local TV stations, thousands of protesters who had gathered in central Beirut chanted: “The people want to bring down the regime.”

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2019