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Beirut – The drama of the remarks flared in Lebanon after Prime Minister-designate Mustafa Adib apologized for the formation of the government, reset consultations to zero, and put political parties in a position to work to thwart the French initiative, especially because most of them show adherence to it, but are working to frustrate it by consuming time.
In a preliminary response, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, leader of the Amal Movement, said that his movement still adheres to the French initiative, at a time when Lebanese political circles are unanimous that the support of the Amal Movement and Hezbollah, or the so-called Shiite duo, are among the most unsuccessful. The French initiative and put obstacles in the way of any progress for its success.
Suleiman Franjieh, who leads a Christian group allied with Hezbollah, described the French initiative as “a golden opportunity and the formation of a government and an agreement must be accelerated.”
The Free Patriotic Movement, the party founded by Lebanese President Michel Aoun, said it was committed to the principles of the French plan and urged Macron to continue supporting Lebanon. He added that the new government needs the support of political blocs.
“We say to those who applaud the failure of French President Emmanuel Macron’s initiative today that they will bite their fingers with regret,” said former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who used to say he offered an initiative to save the course of recent consultations.
Hariri’s recent initiative was based on a proposal to hand over the finance portfolio to an “independent” Shiite minister rather than being appointed directly by Hezbollah. This initiative was met with a negative reaction from the Lebanese as it is a small maneuver that removes Hezbollah’s shame and allows it to preserve its achievements, rather than the success of Mustafa Adeeb’s efforts. Neutralize the sovereign ministries of the different sectarian blocs and give them to the technocrats.
The Lebanese president has referred to Hell in his comment on the situation in his country, referring to the growing inability of the political class to find some kind of solution to the political, economic and financial crisis in Lebanon.
Observers of the Lebanese issue downplayed Paris’s reaction to the setback of their initiative and what appeared to be underestimated by the Shiite duo and Christian allies, some of them historically affiliated with France, noting that Paris, which wants to preserve its historical influence in Lebanon, you will have to wait for further consultations with the same current standards in the hope of making a breakthrough. .
Reuters quoted a source close to French President Emmanuel Macron as saying France will not let Lebanon down, after Mustafa Adib announced his apology for forming the government. The source said that the political parties in Lebanon committed “collective treason.”
Adeeb announced this Saturday his withdrawal from the task of forming a government after negotiations that lasted almost a month, which deals a blow to the French initiative aimed at pushing Lebanon’s leaders to join forces so that the country emerges from its worst crises since the civil war between 1975 and 1990.
Adeeb, the former ambassador to Berlin, was tasked with forming a government on August 31 following the intervention of the French president, who achieved a consensus on his name.
Under the French roadmap, the new government would take swift action to fight corruption and implement the necessary reforms that would guarantee billions of dollars in international aid to save an economy plagued by a mountain of public debt.
Lebanon took another hit when the massive explosion occurred in the port of Beirut on August 4, destroying a large area of the capital.
Adeeb, a Sunni under the sectarian quota system, announced that he would step back from the task of forming a government, but said Lebanon should not abandon the French initiative.
After meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun, he said: “I assure you that this initiative must continue because it expresses the sincere intention of the French friendly state and President Macron personally to support and support Lebanon.”
Adeeb tried to form a government of specialists in a country where Muslim and Christian communities share power and political loyalties are divided along sectarian lines.
In a statement of apology, he said: “With the effort to form a government reaching its final stages, it became clear to me that this consensus on the basis of which I accepted this national mission in this difficult circumstance in Lebanon’s history has ceased to exist. And as a group with the specifications that I have marked is already doomed to failure, and due to my concern for national unity with its constitution and statute, I apologize for continuing with the task of forming a government, wishing that those elected for the arduous task after me and those who choose it total success.
Lebanese politicians had promised Paris to form a government in mid-September. However, Adeeb’s efforts were in vain due to a dispute over ministerial portfolios, especially the Ministry of Finance, whose leadership will play a vital role in establishing a program to lift Lebanon out of the crippling economic crisis.
Adeeb held several meetings with prominent Shiite politicians, but failed to reach a consensus on how to select the finance minister.
Muhannad Haj Ali, of the Carnegie Middle East Center, said that the factions and sects supported by Iran may have wanted to interrupt the process of forming a new government to await the results of the US presidential elections to be held on November 3.
US President Donald Trump, who is seeking re-election, is pursuing a hard-line policy toward Iran and its allies, and his administration has imposed sanctions on Lebanese politicians who support Hezbollah.
