A step toward transparency

After nearly a decade of preparation and debate, Lebanon’s Parliament finally ratified an access to information law in January. The country is consistently perceived as corrupt, according to global watchdog Transparency International, and Lebanon does not rate highly on the World Bank’s ease of doing business index. Enforcement of this new law might, over time, help improve those rankings, as well as the business investment environment and the quality of services the government provides to the public – all while coercing Lebanese authorities to be more transparent and accountable to the citizens. The law came into effect in February but, while this magazine has not yet put it to the test, its implementation could face some obstacles, and another law is still required to establish a key body crucial to define what information actually is accessible. Obstacles The law prescribes that virtually all government entities publish key documents showing indicators