|
BEIRUT, Oct. 21-- The Lebanese analysts expressed their doubts about the incumbent cabinet's capability of implementing the reform measures announced by Prime Minister Saad Hariri, calling for a new one to be formed for the task. Nassib Ghobril, an economist and head of the economic research department at Byblos Bank, told Xinhua that some of the reform measures announced by Hariri are much needed by the private sector but there is a crisis of confidence in the country. "We got used to receiving such reports and studies by Lebanese authorities but they never get implemented. This political class has lost the confidence of people and the private sector," he explained, citing the anti-corruption law in Hariri's economic reform measures. Mohammad Aboul Hassan, a financial analyst and banker, said people lost trust in the government and this is what prompted them to protest against the entire political system. However, the government and the people have no other choices but to go on with the proposed reforms to avoid further economic deterioration, he added. Hariri announced a list of reforms that will be implemented by the government in 2019, after five days of nationwide demonstrations against the government's policies. Among the most important reforms announced by Hariri is a 2020 state budget with a 0.6-percent deficit, a reduction in the salaries of ministers, parliament members and former members by 50 percent, a reduction in the budgets of the Council for Development and Reconstruction and other public institutions by 70 percent. | 
