October 17 Revolution

Starting in the summer of 2019, the black market rate for the Lebanese lira started deviating from the official rate in light of the Lebanese government defaulting on its debt. Additionally, parts of Lebanon were decimated by wildfires in October 2019, which Lebanon was unable to respond to due to a lack of maintenance of firefighting equipment. As a result of the financial situation in Lebanon, the Lebanese cabinet announced planned financial measures on 17 October 2019, prompting the outbreak of country-wide protests. The protests focused on corruption, political stagnation, the sectarian system, and political and financial mismanagement in the country, as well as social dynamics including migrant and women's rights. The protests resulted in the resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri. As a result of the 2019 Revolution, thirteen independent "Change" members of parliament were elected in 2022 in the first parliamentary elections after the uprising.