Lebanon’s tax hikes draw anger from economically frustrated public

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has announced hikes on petrol and sales taxes. Analysts say it is a regressive policy.

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Beirut, Lebanon – Anger in Lebanon is growing after the government of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced increases in petrol taxes and value-added taxes (VATs) last week.

The rises in what economists and analysts have called “regressive” taxes led to two protests on February 17 and an array of criticism against the government, including from media and voices that had previously been friendly to Salam’s reformist administration.