Lebanese government: last chance negotiations
Lebanese Prime Minister designate Moustapha Adib is due to go to the presidency on Thursday to submit the composition of his government or his resignation.
Dalati Nohra via AP
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2 min
Intense negotiations are taking place in Beirut to try to form a government.
The next few hours will be crucial with the end of the additional 24 hours deadline agreed between the Lebanese parties and France, fully engaged in the search for a solution to the political and economic crisis in Lebanon.
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With our correspondent in Beirut,
Paul Khalifeh
This Wednesday, the Elysee regretted that Lebanese politicians did not manage to form a government within the timeframe they had promised, saying however that it is not yet too late.
The formation of the government still comes up against
the demand of the Shiite parties
to be given the finance portfolio and to appoint their ministers.
Hezbollah and the Amal movement hardened their positions after the sanctions imposed on September 8 by the United States against the deputy Ali Hassan Khalil, adviser to the speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berry, principal Shiite political figure of the State.
Both parties suspect their Lebanese opponents of using these sanctions to try to isolate the Shia community by removing its representatives from executive power.
But the Sunni leader Saad Hariri estimated this Wednesday, that "
the Ministry of Finance and all the other portfolios are not an exclusive right for the various confessions
".
In an attempt to reconcile these contradictory positions, all-out contacts are taking place in Beirut and Paris.
Also this Wednesday, the French ambassador in Beirut spoke with a delegation from Hezbollah to try to smooth things over.
The next few hours will tell if these last-ditch moves were successful.
Prime Minister-designate Moustapha Adib is due to go to the presidential palace on Thursday to hand over to the Head of State his resignation or the composition of his government.
It remains to be seen if Michel Aoun will accept it.
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Lebanon