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BEIRUT / PARIS – A diplomatic source said French President Emmanuel Macron called on Lebanese leaders on Friday to discuss stalled efforts to form a new government, while Paris seeks to give new impetus to its initiative to pull Lebanon out of deep water. financial crisis.
France is putting pressure on politicians from different Lebanese sects to soon form a government that initiates reforms that will lead the country out of its worst crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war.
However, the process reached a dead end due to sectarian disputes over the assumption of key ministerial portfolios.
The two main Shiite factions in the country, the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group and the Amal movement, insist on nominating the Shiite figures who will participate in the government and among the portfolios that want to name whoever holds the finance ministry.
The deadline set between the leaders of Paris and Lebanon to form a new government on September 15 has passed.
The Lebanese presidency stated that President Michel Aoun had received a call from French President Emmanuel Macron and addressed “the situation of the government and the need to continue efforts to ensure the birth of the government as soon as possible.”
A diplomatic source said Macron also contacted Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, leader of the Amal Movement, who voiced his objections to Prime Minister-designate Mustafa Adib’s method of forming the government and who also insists that a Shiite figure take on the financial portfolio.
Macron also connects with prominent Sunni politician Saad Hariri, the former prime minister who supports Prime Minister-designate Mustafa Adib.
Adeeb said Thursday that he would allow more time for talks to form the government, after reports indicated he may resign from the mission. He had suggested exchanging control of the ministries, as they remained in the hands of the same sects for many years.
The diplomatic source said Macron spoke with Adeeb on Thursday and asked him to remain calm and not resign.
Lebanese Christian opposition politician Samir Geagea said today, Friday, that the demands of the Shiite Shiite movement Hezbollah and Amal hit the French initiative to pull Lebanon out of its crisis “to the core.”
He added during a televised press conference: “God willing, I’m wrong, but it broke. What would it be like to be saved?”
He indicated that compliance with the demands of Hezbollah and the Amal movement would push the rest of the factions to present demands, which would prevent reforms.
In response to a question about what to expect if the opportunity provided by the French initiative dissipates, he said: “More collapse, but faster.”
