Elie Khoury

In various debates, Dimyanos Kattar refers to the Middle Class as being an important constituent of the Lebanese society. Middle class does not only describe those households with medium income. It mainly illustrates a social status of self-depending families with initiative and the ambition to progress by seeking a respectable living standard and fine education for their children.

In the second half of the 20th century and until the war started in 1975, Lebanon’s development and growth relied mainly on a growing Middle Class. This demographic group exceeded 60% of Lebanon’s population at one point. Out of the Middle Class segment came brilliant professionals, entrepreneurs, executives and public officers that made the country’s years of economic prosperity.

As per Kattar, the Middle Class was the most affected by the years of war. Some of the Middle Class families drowned into poverty, others left the country and the remaining ones are struggling to preserve their living standard.

As a result the country’s wealth was redistributed unevenly with the majority of population now in poverty, the wealthy growing richer and the Middle Class shrinking to less that 25% today.

It is on Kattar’s agenda to address a structural socio-economic reform that favors the re-creation of an active and motivated Middle Class.