Beirut: The Depositors’ Cry Association, joined by depositors’ groups, on Friday staged a protest outside the French Embassy, denouncing what they described as French interference and pressure on Lebanese lawmakers and officials to approve the government’s proposed “financial gap law.”

According to National News Agency – Lebanon, the organizers stated that the draft law would legalize the confiscation of depositors’ funds and write off bank deposits. Protesters emphasized that national sovereignty is a “red line” and rejected any foreign involvement in Lebanon’s internal affairs, particularly on financial and livelihood issues affecting more than one million depositors.

The demonstrators warned that continued external pressure to pass the law would be met with further popular mobilization and street escalation. They also called on Lebanese MPs to uphold their constitutional responsibilities, resist outside pressure, and protect depositors’ rights rather than legitimizing their loss.