FPM President Gebran Bassil

President of the Free Patriotic Movement Gebran Bassil said that Riad Salameh is the Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon (CBL) and not the governor of the Lebanese Republic, noting that he is the only one who has been deciding the subsidization policy since October 17, 2019.

Bassil said in a press conference on Thursday, following the CBL's Governor's decision to remove fuel subsidies, "The Governor is paralyzing the country and going against the government's decision to gradually remove rationalize subsidies in exchange for providing people with aid; he is also in violation of a law passed by Parliament."

He asked, "Why does the Lebanese Government not convene to show its authority and take measures against the Governor of the CBL if he proves to be uncooperative?"

Bassil considered yesterday's sudden decision to completely remove fuel subsidies is "no less than a step to implode the country and a murderous decision that will not end the smuggling that will only stop if security apparatuses prove to be more firm," noting that "some are looking to put a damper on the positive atmosphere between the President of Lebanon and the PM-designate."

The President of the FPM said that an economic war is being waged on Lebanon and Riad Salameh is its executor, stressing that the collective massacre against the Lebanese people must be stopped. Bassil added that "the required reserves should not be arbitrarily used as an excuse."

He also said, "There was a promise to continue supporting fuel until the end of summer, and it was intended that the subsidies be rationalized until the ration card would be issued," calling on the President and Speaker of Parliament to make a stand.

Bassil had earlier today called on the President, the Government, and the people to prevent what he called "the execution of the conspiracy," describing Riad Salameh's decision as unilateral and a "new coup-d'etat," urging the FPM and the people to prepare to make a move.

On his part, the PM of the caretaker government, Hassan Diab, said that the Governor of the CBL's decision is illegal, stressing that the government emphasized the need to rationalize subsidies [and not remove them] just as the ration card is issued.

The CBL had yesterday announced that the funds were allocated for fuel in accordance with the dollar's market price in Lebanese Pounds.

Politicians call Salameh's decision a "coup d'etat"

The first one to tweet after last night's decision was FPM President Gebran Bassil, who said,

"Just as the ration card was close to completion and the government approaching formation, the Governor [of the CBL] decided to implode the country, backed by those who don't want the government! Salameh is the Governor of the CBL, not the country's for him to act alone and decide [unilaterally] to suddenly remove subsidies! The President, the government, and the people must prevent the execution of the conspiracy. This is a blatant crime and its perpetrators must be stopped."

لمّا اقتربت البطاقة التمويلية من الانجاز،والحكومة من التشكيل،قرّر الحاكم ان يفجّر البلد بغطاء ممّن لا يريدون الحكومة!سلامة هو حاكم المركزي وليس حاكم البلد لكي يقرّر وحيداً رفع الدعم فجأة!على الرئيس والحكومة والشعب ان يمنعوا تنفيذ المؤامرة.انّها جريمة موصوفة ويجب ايقاف مرتكبيها GB
— Gebran Bassil (@Gebran_Bassil) August 11, 2021

The President of the Popular Nasserite Organization (PNO) Ousama Saad tweeted:

"Don't believe them... The decision to remove subsidies is backed by all those in power... Chaos is the cane they use against the people and chaos is their refuge to reproduce their criminal enterprise... No to murderous chaos, no to the criminal enterprise...Yes to the unity of the people, yes to justice, yes to security, yes to change..."

لا تصدقوهم…
قرار رفع الدعم قرار مدعوم من كل أطراف السلطة…
الفوضى عصاهم الغليظة ضد الناس والفوضى ملاذهم لإعادة انتاج منظومتهم المجرمة…
لا للفوضى القاتلة ولا للمنظومة المجرمة…
نعم لوحدة الشعب ، نعم للعدالة، نعم للأمان ، نعم للتغيير…
— Ousama Saad | أسامة سعد (@OusamaSaad1) August 12, 2021

Central Bank: The required reserves can only be touched by legal mandate

The Central Bank of Lebanon released a statement on its decision to remove fuel subsidies, in which it said: "The Government was informed a year ago that the required reserves cannot be touched," highlighting that "accessing these funds requires a legal mandate."

The CBL also noted that "$800 million were paid in exchange for fuel last month," and despite the money being spent on fuel and medicine, "these goods have still not been made available," adding that it is necessary to "shift from supporting main goods to supporting people directly," in a note referencing the ration card.

This move caused the eruption of popular and political anger, with social media in an uproar as activists called for protests and roadblocks in a number of Lebanese regions on Thursday.