Crisis in Lebanon: Hezbollah leader rejects "intimidation" and Macron's tone

Hezbollah supporters in a cafe in a Shiite neighborhood in Beirut, Lebanon, September 29, 2020. RFI / Thibault Lefébure

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2 min

Less than 48 hours after the severe criticism addressed by Emmanuel Macron to the Lebanese political class and more specifically to the Shiite parties, the head of Hezbollah responded on the evening of Tuesday, September 29 to the French president.

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From our correspondent in Beirut

, 

Paul Khalifeh

Hassan Nasrallah reaffirmed his support for the Paris initiative, calling for the formation of a government in Lebanon as soon as possible, but called for a “ 

revision

 ” of the tone and the modus operandi.

The measured tone did not mask the contained anger of the head of Hezbollah.

Choosing his words carefully, Hassan Nasrallah addressed criticisms against the form and substance of Emmanuel Macron's speech, while reaffirming his support for France's efforts to help Lebanon emerge from its multiple crises.

However, the French initiative must not

"

turn into a mandate or a tutelage

 ", he warned.

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To read also

: Crisis in Lebanon: Emmanuel Macron points to the “collective betrayal” of the political class

Hassan Nasrallah defended himself for having prevented the formation of a new government, blaming the failure on the former Sunni prime ministers, headed by Saad Hariri.

Behind them stand, according to him, the United States and Saudi Arabia.

"A prosecutor, an examining magistrate, a wali"

Their objective is to seize all of the power in Lebanon, while they represent only part of the parliamentary minority, added Hassan Nasrallah.

The head of Hezbollah criticized Emmanuel Macron for behaving like " 

a prosecutor, an examining magistrate, a wali, or a governor

 ".

He rejected " 

the intimidation

 " and the " 

condescending tone

 ", and condemned the accusations of " 

treason 

" launched by the French president.

A few hours earlier, it was the Amal movement that criticized the French president.

The Shiite formation, led by the President of Parliament, Nabih Berry, expressed its " 

surprise

 " at the accusations and remarks of Emmanuel Macron.

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  • Lebanon

  • Hezbollah

  • Emmanuel Macron