Al Sharq Strategic Research
2019
October 17, 2019
- Lebanese Government announces new taxes as part of austerity measures, including a VOIP tax on calls by social media.
- Protests spread quickly throughout the country.
- The minister of telecommunication announces the cancellation of the VOIP tax, but protests continue to swell
October 18, 2019
- The government abandons the proposals and Prime Minister Saad Hariri calls for cooperation within the coalition government to draw up a solution plan for the crisis and help meet the demands of the protestors.
- The protests continue to intensify.
- Riot police fires tear gas on protesters.
- The offices of representatives of the Hezbollah and Amal Movement in Nabatiyye, as well as the office of Free Patriotic Movement in Tripoli, are vandalized.
- Banks shut down.
October 19, 2019
- The Maronite Lebanese Forces party (LF) withdraws its four ministers from the government and calls on Hariri to resign.
- Hezbollah’s secretary general Hassan Nasrallah makes a speech validating the economic grievances of the protesters but calls against the resignation of the government.
- Armed pro-Amal thugs attack protesters in Tyre.
- Former MP Mosbah al-Ahdab’s bodyguards fire on protesters in Tripoli and injure four protesters, after the former MP was kicked out from amongst the protesters.
- The first martyr of the revolution, Hussein Al-Attar was shot while protesting and blocking the airport road.
October 21, 2019
- The governmental cabinet meets to agree on a reform package and a reduction in state budget while insuring the cancelation of new taxes.
- Protests continue unabated.
- Banks to remain closed.
October 24, 2019
- In his first speech after the protests, President Michel Aoun acknowledges the grievances of the protesters and offers to hold a dialogue to find the best solution forward.
- Protesters reject the offer of Aoun.
- Scuffles between Hezbollah’s supporters and demonstrators in Downtown Beirut.
October 25, 2019
- In a second speech, Hezbollah’s secretary general Hassan Nasrallah calls on his supporters to not take part in the protests insinuating that they are part of an Israeli and American plot. He also cautions against a slippage into civil war.
October 26, 2019
- The military forces uses rubber bullets injuring eight protesters in Beddawi, North Lebanon. Two are in a critical condition.
October 27, 2019
- Protestors form a 170-km human chain linking Tripoli in the north of Lebanon to Tyre in the south.
October 29, 2019
- Black-clad supporters of Hezbollah and Amal political party attack demonstrators in Beirut with batons and pipes, destroying and torching protestors’ tents.
- Prime Minister Saad Hariri announces resignation after almost two weeks of nationwide protests.
November 1, 2019
- Banks reopen. Limits on cash withdrawal implemented.
- Hezbollah’s secretary general Hassan Nasrallah makes third speech and accuses protestor groups to be motivated by foreign agendas.
November 3, 2019
- The Free Patriotic party – the President’s party – organizes a rally in support of the president.
- Protests continue across the country for the third weekend.
November 7, 2019
- Women’s March
November 12, 2019
- Parliamentary legislative session postponed to November 19 after protestors vied to block the road to the parliament.
- Third speech for Hezbollah’s secretary general Hassan Nasrallah.
- Second martyr of the revolution, Alaa Abou Fakher shot down in protests following a televised interview with president Aoun.
November 15, 2019
- Mohammad Safadi emerges as a candidate for prime ministry but is quickly rejected by protesters.
November 17, 2019
- Melhem Khalaf wins the elections of Beirut Bar Association, in first time an independent candidate wins such an election. Khalaf’s win was considered a victory by the protestors.
November 19, 2019
- Protesters block roads to the parliament in efforts to prevent the two legislative sessions scheduled for the day and were met with violence.
- The sessions get postponed indefinitely after failure to reach quorum.
November 24, 2019
- Violent clashes between protestors and pro-Hezbollah and Amal movement supporters demanding the end of road-blocking imposed by protestors. Protestors’ camps were burnt down with.
November 25, 2019
- Two die in a car accident after hitting a roadblock set by protestors, provoking pro-Hezbollah and Amal movement supporters.
- Pro-Hezbollah and Amal movement supporters attack protest camps in Tyre.
- Pro-Hezbollah and Amal movement supporters circulate in motorcycle convoys in Cola area and clash with supporters of Saad Hariri.
November 26, 2019
- For a third night in a row, clashes broke out in several cities and towns across Lebanon: clashes between supporters of Kataeb party and Free Patriotic Movement in Bekfaya, Amal and Hezbollah supporters trash protest camps in Baalbek.
- Clashes between Chyah and Ain Remmeneh areas, a prominent dividing line from the Civil war, incite sectarian tensions.
December 3, 2019
- Protesters gathered to denounce the nomination of Samir Khatib, a notable businessman, as new Prime Minister.
December 8, 2019
- Samir Khatib withdraws his name from candidacy after continuous protests against his nomination.
December 18, 2019
- Saad Hariri calls on President Aoun to rule himself out of candidacy for prime ministry position.
December 19, 2019
- A professor at the American University of Beirut, Hassan Diab, is nominated to be the next prime minister. Mr. Hariri and many parties abstain on the vote.
December 20-31, 2019
- Protesters reject Mr. Diab’s nomination.
2020
January 21, 2020
- The new Prime minister forms a new government and faces a tough challenge of addressing Lebanon’s worst economic crisis since the end of the civil war.
- Protesters quickly reject his “one color government”, seeing it as a continuation a corrupt political elite.