IMF

Raed Khoury: Eliminating Banks and Deposits Would Be a “Catastrophe”

As the financial collapse continues and losses keep mounting with no clear plan yet for their distribution, attention is once again turning to the stalled negotiations between the Lebanese government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), amid conflicting official approaches on how to address the crisis and restructure the banking sector. The ...

Bsat: IMF Seeks to Impose Losses on Banks... Say Goodbye to Deposits!

Lebanese Economy and Trade Minister Amer Bsat made several key statements during his appearance on the television program “Sar El Waet.” He addressed multiple sensitive issues, including the financial-gap law, bank restructuring, and negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Bsat emphasized that it is not possible to commit to ...

When Samir Hammoud Sacrifices Depositors to Please the IMF

Negotiation skills refer to the capacities and methods used by an individual when engaging in discussions with another party in order to reach an agreement that satisfies both sides, without sacrificing the rights or interests of either. Key negotiation skills include planning, managing expectations, persuasion, problem-solving, decision-making, ...

A Financial Gap Law That Writes Off Deposits and Submits to the IMF

In appearance, Finance Minister Yassin Jaber sought to present his meeting with the Association of Banks in Lebanon (ABL) delegation at the Ministry of Finance as a broad, constructive session that projected an image of consensus. His public remarks reinforced this impression, suggesting that both sides—the ministry and the banks—were aligned ...

Lebanon Meets the IMF: An Exercise in Masochism

The latest round of kabuki theater between Lebanon’s government and the IMF has produced what all such high-level summits inevitably do: a mixture of forced smiles, indecipherable jargon, and the vague scent of scorched-earth diplomacy. It also revealed something everyone in the room knew but no one had the courage—or funding—to fix: Lebanon ...

After 100 Days in Office, Salam Pledges Reform, Security and Economic Recovery

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam marked the first 100 days of his government by presenting a bold reform agenda and outlining the progress made so far. Speaking on the eve of Eid al-Adha, Salam acknowledged the scale of Lebanon’s challenges but said the country has started taking real steps toward recovery. On the security front, Salam noted that ...

IMF Calls on US, EU to "Negotiate a Deal"

The United States and the European Union need to "de-escalate" and "negotiate a deal" to help boost lackluster growth on the continent, the International Monetary Fund's Europe director said Friday. "In our discussions with European leaders, I don't sense any difference of views with regard to the importance of that relationship," IMF Europe ...

'Deadly' Loans Behind 'False Hope': Beware the IMF Trap

The experiences of many countries with international financial institutions—chief among them the International Monetary Fund (IMF)—show that such partnerships often lead to counterproductive results. Instead of rescuing economies from crisis, the so-called reform programs have deepened structural and financial problems. In many cases, these ...

To Those Betting on the International Monetary Fund

An official Lebanese delegation is heading to Washington, DC to participate in the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings, carrying with it new promises and commitments aimed at pleasing these two international institutions. It seeks to convince them that Lebanon has indeed embarked on the path of reform and seeks to go even further by fulfilling all ...

Lebanon’s Increased IMF Subscription: A Prerequisite for Future Funding?

The Finance and Budget Committee, chaired by MP Ibrahim Kanaan, has tentatively approved an increase in Lebanon's contribution to the International Monetary Fund, requesting Minister of Finance Yassine Jaber to provide a study on the feasibility of raising Lebanon’s contribution by $423 million. According to Kanaan, the increase in ...