MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam’s threat to step down might push the government to deal with to the current problems facing the nation, Lebanon’s Social Affairs Minister Rashid Derbas told Sputnik Monday.
Last week, Lebanon saw violent clashes between police and demonstrators protesting over the country’s failure to collect garbage from the street.
In the interview with Sputnik, Derbas approved of the prime minister’s act, saying that by showing how serious he was in his intention to step down, Salam got "some political forces" to start acting.
"I think this is a sign that the government will now start to work and will stop putting off discussions of the problems of the nation," Derbas said.
According to the minister, during the next session, the government will consider such issues as state wages, subsidies and public access to credit and will seek a positive solution to the waste collection problem.
Thousands of tons of garbage have been left uncollected in Lebanon following the closure of the country’s main landfill in July.
On Saturday, activists rallied in Beirut to protest against government corruption and political inaction amid the growing garbage crisis. Police used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons to quell the protesters.
According to media reports, at least 15 demonstrators and 35 police officers were injured during the clashes.
