Retired military officers staged on Tuesday sit-ins in several Lebanese regions to protest any possible wage cuts and the decrease their end-of-service benefits.
They blocked several entrances to the capital Beirut as political leaders threatened to make the cut as part of efforts aimed at reducing the budget deficit.
Head of the Lebanese General Labor Union Beshara Asmar joined protesters and showed solidarity with all demands against wage cuts. The protesters blocked the road leading to the Central Bank in Beirut.
A group of military veterans also held a protest at Riad Solh square and the Ministry of Finance premises in Downtown Beirut.
“The sit-in will continue until the government clearly annuls all measures related to possible wage cuts and the decrease of our end-of-service benefits,” retired General Maroun Khreish said, speaking on behalf of the National Commission for Veterans.
Retired General Georges Nader said: “We closed the entrances of the Port of Beirut and the Central Bank to send a warning message to the government.”
He threatened that no parliament session would be held if the cabinet does not withdraw items related to their salary cuts from the draft budget.
Meanwhile, the General Labor Union announced a three-day general strike starting Thursday. The Socialist Party said it would hold a protest Wednesday on Labor Day to protest any wage cuts.
The protests took place as the cabinet launched a series of meetings Tuesday to discuss the 2019 state budget that was prepared by Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil.
The minister had previously said that it would include austerity measures and reductions in spending in a bid to ease the budget deficit.
