In November 2015, Lebanon's members of parliament met for the first time in a year. Among the handful of overdue laws they ratified was one on money laundering and another on terrorism financing. The dysfunctional assembly acts only on issues where every group's interests are served, and on this they all agree – what is good for Lebanese banks is good for everyone.
Bankers had made it clear that unless the two bills were enacted, the sanctions on Lebanon and its banking industry would be severe. Since this is the jewel in Lebanon's rather tarnished economic crown, the feuding politicians put aside their differences and united behind the legislation.
