Lebanon’s Deputy PM Says Salameh Should Resign

Lebanon's caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Saade Chami speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at his office in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, May 18, 2023.  (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Lebanon's caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Saade Chami speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at his office in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, May 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
TT
20

Lebanon’s Deputy PM Says Salameh Should Resign

Lebanon's caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Saade Chami speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at his office in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, May 18, 2023.  (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Lebanon's caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Saade Chami speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at his office in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, May 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

The Lebanese official heading talks with the International Monetary Fund to bailout Lebanon's tanking economy called Thursday for the country's embattled central bank chief to resign, amid allegations of corruption and an international arrest warrant issued against him.

Lebanon’s caretaker deputy prime minister, Saade Chami, told The Associated Press in an interview that the allegations against Riad Salameh put the government’s credibility at risk and “could threaten the country’s financial relations with the rest of the world,” including with the IMF and other global financial institutions.

Chami is the highest-ranking Lebanese official to call for Salameh's resignation to date.

Salameh, 72, has held his post for almost 30 years. A European-led investigation into his personal wealth stashed abroad has raised questions about his tenure at the central bank and wider issues of corruption in Lebanon's financial and political system.

A spokesperson for Salameh, who has denied allegations of corruption and mismanagement, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Chami said that although Salameh is innocent until proven guilty, “it is not possible nor acceptable for anyone who is accused of multiple alleged financial crimes in several countries to continue to exercise his powers" as central bank head.

The charges against Salameh “are reputational risks” and “will necessarily be a distraction” for a central bank office that is "entrusted with the stability of the financial system,” he said.

Salameh’s term comes to an end in July, and he has said previously he would not seek to extend it.

Since Salameh’s remaining time in office is relatively short, rather than recusing himself during any ongoing investigations, “it would be better for him to resign, and if not, the government needs to take a decision," the deputy prime minister added.

A French investigative judge Tuesday issued an international arrest warrant for Salameh after he didn’t show up for questioning in France on corruption charges.

A European judicial team from France, Germany and Luxembourg has been conducting a corruption investigation into an array of financial crimes they allege were committed by Salameh, his associates and others.

The allegations include illicit enrichment and laundering of $330 million.

Salameh has repeatedly denied all allegations against him and insisted that his wealth comes from his previous job as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch, inherited properties, and investments.

In a statement earlier this week, he accused the French investigation and judicial process of “double standards” and of leaking confidential information to the media.

He vowed to appeal the arrest warrant.Charbel Abu Samra, the Lebanese judge overseeing a separate local case against Salameh, said Thursday that the Interpol office in Lebanon had not yet received the arrest warrant. Once it does, he said, “the judiciary will deal with it as required by law and sovereignty.”



US Revokes Foreign Terrorist Designation for Syria's HTS

Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks during a Ministerial formation of the government of the Syrian Arab Republic, in Damascus, Syria March 29, 2025. (Reuters)
Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks during a Ministerial formation of the government of the Syrian Arab Republic, in Damascus, Syria March 29, 2025. (Reuters)
TT
20

US Revokes Foreign Terrorist Designation for Syria's HTS

Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks during a Ministerial formation of the government of the Syrian Arab Republic, in Damascus, Syria March 29, 2025. (Reuters)
Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks during a Ministerial formation of the government of the Syrian Arab Republic, in Damascus, Syria March 29, 2025. (Reuters)

President Donald Trump's administration on Monday revoked the foreign terrorist organization designation for Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, as Washington moves to remove US sanctions on Syria to help the country rebuild following years of a civil war.

In December, opposition factions led by HTS ousted Syria's former president Bashar al-Assad in a lightning offensive. Then-HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa became Syria's president and said he wanted to build an inclusive and democratic Syria.

HTS was previously known as al-Nusra Front when it was al-Qaeda's Syria branch. It broke off ties with al-Qaeda in 2016.

In May, Sharaa met with Trump in Riyadh where, in a major policy shift, the Republican president unexpectedly announced he would lift US sanctions on Syria, prompting Washington to significantly ease its measures.

"This FTO revocation is an important step in fulfilling President Trump’s vision of a stable, unified, and peaceful Syria," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement, adding that the revocation will come into effect on Tuesday.

Last week, Trump signed an executive order terminating US sanctions program on Syria, a move that aims to end the country's isolation from the international financial system.

Syria's foreign ministry told Reuters that the lifting of sanctions on HTS was a "positive step toward correcting a course that previously hindered constructive engagement."

The written statement said Syria hoped the move would "contribute to the removal of remaining restrictions that continue to impact Syrian institutions and officials, and open the door to a rational, sovereign-based approach to international cooperation."

The ministry also said that Sharaa was planning to attend the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in September. The UN Security Council still has sanctions on both HTS and Sharaa himself, which require a Council decision to remove.