This archive report was first published on 20 October 2019.
On Saturday, thousands of protesters rallied across Lebanon, chanting slogans such as 'revolution' and 'the people demand the fall of the regime', echoing similar demands in other parts of the Arab world.
While the initial protests were sparked by a proposed tax on WhatsApp calls, the demonstrations quickly morphed into a broader call for change, with protesters demanding an end to the country's sectarian-based political system.
Lebanon's political system, established to balance power between the country's religious sects, has been criticized for perpetuating corruption and inefficiency.
Many of the country's current senior politicians rose to prominence during the 15-year civil war that ended in 1990.
As the protests continue, the government is under pressure to implement reforms, with the Sunni Prime Minister Saad Hariri giving his coalition partners until Monday evening to back key reforms.
However, the Christian Lebanese Forces party, led by Samir Geagea, has announced its ministers' resignation from the government, citing the government's inability to take necessary steps to save the situation.
"We are now convinced that the government is unable to take the necessary steps to save the situation," Geagea said.
Despite the resignation, other members of the government, including the Shiite movement Hezbollah, remain opposed to resigning.
As the protests continue, demonstrators are calling for wholesale change, with many condemning the entire political class as thieves and criminals.
Lebanon's economic situation is dire, with a public debt of around $86 billion and a growth rate that has plummeted in recent years, compounded by the impact of eight years of war in neighboring Syria.
