Blog
Happening Now: Lebanese Parliament Holds First Session Since COVID-19 Outbreak
For the first time since the Coronavirus outbreak in Lebanon, the Lebanese parliament is currently holding a legislative session at the UNESCO Palace in Beirut, during which they will be voting on draft laws that have been deemed controversial by many.
These include the legalization of medical marijuana , which was previously approved by the Lebanese Parliament’s joint committee, the general amnesty law, which is feared to pardon “white-collar crimes” like public officials’ misconduct and corruption, the Bisri Dam construction project, whose funding was withdrawn by the World Bank, and more.
The parliament first closed down on March 9, 2020, citing the current coronavirus outbreak. Since then, they had partaken in some virtual meetings, but will be reconvening face-to-face in UNESCO for the next couple of days.
Meanwhile, some protestors have already taken to the streets in front of UNESCO, against the controversial items on the parliament’s agenda.
#Lebanon is holding its first Parliament session since the #COVIDー19 outbreak. It’ll be at the UNESCO Palace in #Beirut.
— Kareem Chehayeb | (@chehayebk) April 21, 2020
Protests are also taking place against some controversial items on the agenda – incl a draft ‘general amnesty’ law which appears to have been watered down.
These include the legalization of medical marijuana , which was previously approved by the Lebanese Parliament’s joint committee, the general amnesty law, which is feared to pardon “white-collar crimes” like public officials’ misconduct and corruption, the Bisri Dam construction project, whose funding was withdrawn by the World Bank, and more.
#Lebanon parliament is going into session today, but there are problematic bills on their agenda, including the amnesty law. In November, @hrw argued that the broad draft law would pardon public officials accused of serious misconduct & corruption. https://t.co/RACFPY4DZN
— Aya Majzoub (@Aya_Majzoub) April 21, 2020
The parliament first closed down on March 9, 2020, citing the current coronavirus outbreak. Since then, they had partaken in some virtual meetings, but will be reconvening face-to-face in UNESCO for the next couple of days.
Meanwhile, some protestors have already taken to the streets in front of UNESCO, against the controversial items on the parliament’s agenda.