Italy joins its voice to European calls for change in Lebanon

BEIRUT (Reuters) – Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said it is time for Lebanon to rebuild trust between the people and its institutions, to join France’s call for change in a country ravaged by a year-long economic crisis. and the aftermath of a terrible explosion that destroyed the port of his capital last month.

Conte is visiting Beirut a week after the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron, who is leading international efforts to implement major reforms in Lebanon that end decades of corruption and mismanagement in the corridors of the state.

In remarks published by the Lebanese National Information Agency, Conte said after speaking with President Michel Aoun: “It is time to look ahead and build trust among citizens and institutions, as well as write a new page in the history of the Lebanon, “adding that Italy and the European Union are ready to help.

During Macron’s visit to Beirut last week, he said that Lebanese politicians, who generally negotiate for months before forming a new government, pledged to agree to a new government headed by Prime Minister-designate Mustafa Adib in just two weeks. say, mid-September.

And the rapid formation of a new government is the first step in the demands mentioned in a French political roadmap that paves the way for heavily indebted Lebanon to receive billions of dollars in aid needed to return. to stand up.

Lebanon received none of the aid that was first promised at an international conference in 2018, because previous governments never implemented the promised reforms.

The Prime Minister-designate needs to be ready to form the government early next week in order to stay on track, but unlike previous government-formation efforts, there was no public discussion or public debate from the party. mentioned on the names of the candidates for ministerial positions.

Lebanese media and political sources say Adeeb proposed a smaller-than-usual government of about 14 ministers instead of about 24 as usual.

But the prime minister-designate, a former ambassador to Berlin, has made no public statements.