[ad_1]
French President Emmanuel Macron visited Lebanon twice in less than a month. For the first time, he was with the people of Beirut to comfort the families of the victims and those affected by the port explosion, promising to hold them accountable. He returned the second time with a “reform plan” that included fighting corruption and conducting financial and other audits. And a condition that it be applied within a certain period of time to reactivate the conferences in support of Lebanon, on the basis of which it would obtain financial and economic support from the main countries.
According to Reuters, the French roadmap calls on the next government in Lebanon to immediately resume talks with the International Monetary Fund to reform the ailing economy, take swift action to combat corruption and implement other reforms that have been delayed for years.
Macron’s visits and the action plan he presented to politicians raised an important question on the Lebanese street, first about the French interest that reorganized priorities within Lebanon, and second about the ability of the ruling political class to implement radical reforms. in the next few months, which led Lebanon into bankruptcy for the past 15 years.
In this context, Lebanese writer and journalist Elie El-Hajj says in an interview with the Al-Hurra website, “There are close and historical relations between the two countries, and there are influencing factors such as the Lebanese community in France, which is considers influential in several areas, including cultural and political. “
sanctions
Reuters said it had seen the draft of the French program, which contained a strong message to Lebanon’s leaders sent by the French president’s visit to Beirut, saying: “Implement reforms by the end of October or face sanctions.”
Regarding the deadline that Macron gave politicians to implement reforms and fight corruption, Al-Hajj said that “Macron has something of a mandate from the international community, because the situation in Lebanon is bad and it is getting worse. He (Macron) did not demand changes but reforms. ” The political class is committed to the reforms that Macron proposed according to a specific program, and there will be sanctions against politicians. “
Mustafa Adib, the former Lebanese ambassador to Germany, was assigned to the post of prime minister hours before Macron’s arrival. Adeeb has to get approval from his government before taking office, something that usually takes several months. Macron said the politicians agreed to fulfill this mission within two weeks.
The French draft states that the new Lebanese government must set a deadline for talks with the International Monetary Fund within 15 days after taking power, and within a month, the government must implement a law to restrict the movement of capital approved by the International Monetary Fund and begin to audit the accounts of the Banque du Liban and implement reforms in the country. The electricity sector, which is still unable to supply the country’s population of some six million people, with electricity around the clock.
Experience in the art of evasion
In addition, the government must cancel within a month current plans for a controversial project to build a power station in Salata, north of Beirut, and establish a national commission to fight corruption.
For his part, Lebanese writer and political analyst Amin Gamourieh said in an interview with Al-Hurra that the French president gave politicians one last chance, saying: “Macron has thrown a lifeline on the political class, and they will try to please him.” . He asked, “Are they willing to compromise? Probably not, and they are an excitable class and experienced in the art of escape.”
In the absence of commitment to reforms and the fight against corruption, Al-Hajj emphasized that “the West and the French can discover the sources, paths and ends of the funds, and on this basis sanctions can be imposed on the corrupt.”
“The issue that worries them with sanctions and exposing their children to danger is easier than putting their pockets at risk,” Gamourieh added.
Gamourieh assured that politicians will be on fire until the last time in defense of their interests, and said: “This class is using the time to tell Macron that we have implemented reforms, but this is a malicious class and plays the role of maneuver, and the sword hangs from his neck. “
The next few days will clarify the facts and reveal the scope of the political class’s commitment to the reform document presented by Macron. Only the results will determine whether the situation in Lebanon will be heading towards recovery or towards the abyss.
