2024 RT Amination Banner.gif

China Daily

Asia Pacific> Asia News> Content
Friday, September 18, 2020, 22:58
France's Macron calls Lebanese leaders over cabinet plans
By Reuters
Friday, September 18, 2020, 22:58 By Reuters

This photo taken on Aug 9, 2020 shows a Lebanese flag flying along a bridge near the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut, with the background showing the damaged grain silos opposite the blast site of a colossal explosion. (JOSEPH EID / AFP)

BEIRUT / PARIS - French President Emmanuel Macron called Lebanese leaders on Friday over stalled efforts to form a new government, a diplomatic source said, as Paris seeks to give a new push to its bid to pull the country out of a deep financial crisis.

France has been leaning on Lebanon’s sectarian politicians to name a cabinet swiftly and embark on reforms to get the country out of the worst crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war

France has been leaning on Lebanon’s sectarian politicians to name a cabinet swiftly and embark on reforms to get the country out of the worst crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war.

But the process hit a logjam because of a dispute over cabinet portfolios. Lebanon’s main Shi’ite Muslim factions, Iran-backed Hezbollah and the Amal Movement, say they must name Shi’ite ministers who should include the finance minister.

READ MORE: Lebanon's leaders agree on new PM before Macron visit

A Sept 15 deadline agreed between Lebanese politicians and Paris for forming the new government has already been missed.

President Michel Aoun, a Christian under Lebanon’s sectarian system of power sharing, received a phone call from Macron “dealing with the government situation and the necessity to continue efforts to secure the creation of the government as soon as possible,” the Lebanese presidency said.

A diplomatic source said Macron had also called Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, the leader of Amal, and the leading Sunni politician Saad al-Hariri, a former premier who has been backing Prime Minister-designate Mustapha Adib.

Adib, a Sunni, said on Thursday he would give more time for talks on forming the cabinet after reports indicated he might resign. He had proposed switching control of ministries, some of which have been held by the same factions for years.

Adib, a Sunni, said on Thursday he would give more time for talks on forming the cabinet after reports indicated he might resign

The diplomatic source said Macron had spoken to Adib on Thursday to tell him to keep calm and not step down.

Christian opposition politician Samir Geagea, a fierce opponent of Hezbollah, said the Shi’ite groups’ demands had struck at the core of the French initiative.

ALSO READ: Macron to Lebanese leaders: reform swiftly or face consequences

“God willing I am wrong, but it has really broken down, what can save it now?” Geagea said in a televised news conference.

He said that giving into the demands of Hezbollah and Amal would lead other factions making demands, obstructing reform.

Asked what would happen if the opportunity presented by the French push was lost, he said: “More collapse, but faster.”

Share this story

CHINA DAILY
HONG KONG NEWS
OPEN
Please click in the upper right corner to open it in your browser !