Lebanese eager for French leadership in the absence of their own

Lebanese politicians plan to implement changes to improve the country’s political structure. The purpose of Macron’s visit is to oversee those plans. The objective is to achieve a political solution that includes the formation of a functional government headed by a new prime minister. The restructured regime is expected to begin instituting sweeping changes and hold elections in the next 12 months. In return, Beirut would receive much-needed financial assistance from abroad.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun voiced support for these demands on August 30, saying: “The system needs to be developed, modified and changed. … the youth of Lebanon are calling for a change. “

However, one of the difficulties in reforming the Lebanese government became apparent that same day. Three-quarters of the country’s lawmakers announced that they were supporting Mustapha Adib, Lebanon’s ambassador to Germany for the past seven years, to form the next government. Adib does not have the support of the protesters, who see him as part of the old and troubled system of government.

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Monday called for a change in the country’s confessional political system following the explosion in the Beirut port, which he blamed on official negligence and corruption.

“The most dangerous thing that the port disaster revealed … is the total collapse of the structure of the political and economic system,” Berri said, shortly after the president appointed Adib as the new prime minister.

“Therefore, there must be a change in this confessional system, which is the cause of all evil.”

Many in Lebanon believe that French intervention is urgently needed.

Lynn Zovighian, CEO of The Zovighian Partnership, a social investment platform promoting socio-economic advancement in the Middle East, told The Media Line: “Many of the hard-working Lebanese on the ground are putting a lot of weight on this important visit. , which is seen as a major turning point in terms of political accountability and injecting much-needed oxygen into the capabilities and energy of citizen-led efforts on the ground. “

“We the people must begin to incubate and build the public institutions that President Macron and all other donor governments will need as partners to effectively support Lebanon with the necessary agility and self-determination,” he added.

Hosam Arar, a Beirut-based political activist, agreed: “I am happy but also cautious about this visit, especially because of Hezbollah.”

Macron met with Haji Muhammad Raad, a Hezbollah official in the Lebanese Parliament, on his initial visit to Lebanon after the explosion. Hezbollah has expressed its willingness to listen to the French.

Dr. Raphaël Gourrada, a MENA analyst who specializes in Lebanese issues, says the Lebanese particularly welcome the French presence in light of the lack of leadership from the Lebanese government.

“It is interesting to see that Macron’s visit is generally well received by the Lebanese who addressed him rather than their own political leaders. We saw powerful scenes of support for President Macron from the people in the streets, which reveals how unpopular the Lebanese leaders are, ”he told The Media Line.

While many countries sent their foreign ministers to visit Beirut after the explosion, France sent its highest-ranking official more than once.

One of the reasons for this is that France has the opportunity to shine diplomatically on the world stage.

“The Lebanese people cannot solve the problem on their own. You have … corruption, which is killing the [country]. You have [the presence of] Hezbollah, which collapses the banking system because it is listed as a terrorist group by the United States and therefore faces many sanctions. … All this must be resolved and they need a mediator to try to issue a new proposal for a new republic without religious. [factionalism]”Nathalie Goulet, Senator from Normandy in the French Parliament, told The Media Line.

France was also the colonizing power, and Macron’s return to Beirut marks the centenary of French rule over the country.

However, Goulet says that this is not why the French play a key role in these negotiations.

“It is not colonialism,” he said. Rather, “it is an area of ​​great interest to France.”

Arar says France has an interest in curbing Turkey’s power in the region.

“Macron tries to reduce Turkey’s role in the region and renew the former French role in Lebanon. … It tries to do so by playing a role in establishing the government and developing a reform plan for the Lebanese Republic, ”he said.

According to Arar, there is another motivation behind Macron’s visit: personal political gain.

“After his party lost in the municipal elections, Macron’s visit raised his popularity in the latest polls. At the partisan and popular level he benefited from it, ”said Arar.

Dr. Sania El Kadi, a diplomat and university professor, argues that both Lebanon and France can benefit from France’s guidance.

“It is surely a tense situation in which you need to walk with caution. If managed correctly… Lebanon will stop its descent into hell. France will regain its geopolitical strength in the area and send messages to other important players such as Iran and Russia that we are a force to be reckoned with, ”she told The Media Line.

Still, the French president has a difficult road ahead to achieve his plan to create a functional government.

“Macron compromised the reputation of France and the word of his country by promising a new political pact to the Lebanese people. He [initially] said [at the beginning of the month that] it would come on September 1 with results from Lebanese politicians and with a new pact, “said analyst Gourrada. “A month later, nothing has changed, so now comes the tricky part where he will have to deliver what he promised.”

Mohammad Al-Kassim contributed to this report.