DENIER
Salim Sfeir
Salim Sfeir
Head of Association of Banks
The face of the banking crisis. As head of the Association of Banks (ABL), he famously declared 'The money is safe' while banks were locking doors. He led the ferocious lobbying campaign against the IMF plan, protecting bank shareholders at the expense of depositors.
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"We are not bankrupt; we just don't have liquidity."
Evidence & Activities
ORGANIZED DENIAL
- Led the campaign to torpedo the 2020 Lazard recovery plan, arguing that the state, not banks, should bear the losses.
- Infamously stated 'the money is there' days before banks imposed total capital controls.
PROTECTING SHAREHOLDERS
- Accused of prioritizing the protection of bank capital over the life savings of millions of Lebanese.
- His statements are seen as gaslighting a population that has lost everything.
End of Dossier
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