The head of French diplomacy, Jean-Yves Le Drian, visiting Lebanon, said Thursday, July 23 that the reforms were expected "for too long" in this country in the midst of economic sinking and which hopes to obtain international aid.
>> See also: "Crisis in Lebanon: Implosion soon?"
"Concrete acts have been awaited for too long. It is now urgent and necessary to embark in a concrete way on the path of reforms, this is the message that I have come to convey to all the Lebanese authorities", declared to journalists the French minister after an interview with his Lebanese counterpart, Nassif Hitti.
France to the rescue of bankrupt #Lebanon. The MFA, @JY_LeDrian, has sent from #Beyrouth a warning to the Lebanese political class which is tearing itself apart:
"It is now urgent and necessary to embark in a concrete way on the path of reforms." pic.twitter.com/MsjO6QnVth
Jean-Yves Le Drian's visit comes in an explosive context in Lebanon, which is experiencing the worst economic crisis in its history, marked by an unprecedented depreciation of its currency, soaring prices, large-scale layoffs and banking restrictions on withdrawals and transfers abroad.
Almost half of the Lebanese live in poverty and 35% of the working population is unemployed, according to official statistics.
Le ras-le-bol sparked in October 2019 an unprecedented popular uprising against the political class, accused of corruption and incompetence, and almost unchanged for decades.
With AFP
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