Lebanon's foreign minister resigns, citing lack of reforms
Nassif Hitti is the highest ranking official to step down during the country's worsening economic crisis.
Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Nassif Hitti resigned today, saying the country lacks the will to implement the required reforms to lift it out of its economic crisis.
Hitti said there is an “absence of an effective will to achieve comprehensive structural reform,” according to The Associated Press.
Lebanon is in the middle of its worst economic crisis in decades. Lebanon’s currency has plummeted against the US dollar and unemployment is up. Last week, the leading international credit agency Moody’s downgraded Lebanon credit score to the lowest rating it has, indicating probable default. Despite earlier success, COVID-19 cases have increased greatly in recent days, and protests against the government continue.
Lebanon is seeking international help to get it out of the crisis, but the International Monetary Fund (IMF), France and others are reluctant to help without a clear pathway to reform.
