Lebanon: after threats from France, the silence of officials, the enthusiasm of opponents
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian received by Lebanese President Michel Aoun.
JOSEPH EID DALATI AND NOHRA / AFP
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After a two-day visit to Beirut, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian strongly criticized the leaders and threatened with severe sanctions those who block the political process.
Officials have walled in an embarrassed silence, opponents have displayed their enthusiasm.
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With our correspondent in Beirut,
Paul Khalifeh
Samy Gemayel, the leader of the Christian Kataeb party, does not hide his satisfaction.
He was one of the representatives of the opposition and civil society received by Jean-Yves Le Drian on Thursday, May 6.
According to him, France has changed course in Lebanon by betting no longer on the traditional political class, but on "
the forces of change
".
During his two previous visits in August and September 2020, Emmanuel Macron brought together the representatives of the main parties sitting in Parliament.
Eight months later, his foreign minister ignored them, contenting himself with short protocol meetings with the leaders.
But he received for two hours members of the opposition and figures close to the protest movement.
The political initiative, today, is largely no longer in the hands of Paris ...
Joseph Bahout, research director at the American University of Beirut
Oriane Verdier
►Also read:
Lebanon: Le Drian points to the need to form a government at the risk of sanctions
Michel Moawad, a former deputy who left Parliament to join the opposition, holds the same speech.
France, he said, is now convinced that "
the approach to the Lebanese problem must not be only financial and economic
" but also political.
The loyalists are more reserved.
MP Assaad Dergham, member of the Free Patriotic Movement, CPL, founded by President Michel Aoun, hoped that the sanctions against politicians accused of blocking, envisaged by France, should not be "
politicized like those of the United States
".
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