IMF Bailout May Be Half What Lebanon Sought When Talks Began
- Lebanon risks a ‘real black scenario’ without deal, Nehme says
- Economy minister says country needs $30 billion in financing
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Lebanon may only count on the International Monetary Fund for as little as half the bailout it had originally sought to help unlock other assistance the country critically needs to bridge the crisis, according to a top official.
With talks over a $10 billion loan program stalling for much of this month, the IMF could provide an amount in a range of $5 billion to $9 billion, Economy Minister Raoul Nehme said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. Although Lebanon’s economic collapse is accelerating, Nehme gave no time frame for when a deal might be reached.