Negotiations are continuing behind the scenes in an attempt to resolve the situation in Lebanon.

President Emmanuel Macron received the former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Wednesday evening, with whom he discussed how to "overcome" the obstacles to the formation of a new government, we learned Thursday, February 11 from the Élysée and those around Saad Hariri.

During this working dinner which lasted two hours, the two leaders "spoke of the internal Lebanese difficulties which hamper the formation of the government and the means to overcome them", indicated the office of Saad Hariri, which was appointed for form a government in October.

They also discussed the terms of the "international support for Lebanon" which was promised once a government was formed capable of implementing the reforms necessary to stop the economic collapse and rebuild what was destroyed in Beirut by the explosion. from the port last August ", he added.

The Élysée did not give any details on the content of the interview.

Political stalemate

Despite numerous warnings from the French president, the main Lebanese political forces have been entangled for six months in haggling over the formation of the next government.

The current government is managing day-to-day business after its resignation in the wake of the August 4 explosion at the port of Beirut, which left more than 200 dead, more than 6,500 injured and devastated entire neighborhoods of the capital.

The country has been stuck in a multitude of crises, especially economic and financial, since the fall of 2019.

After the explosion at the port, Emmanuel Macron launched a "French initiative" including a government of "mission" to carry out urgent reforms and unblock international aid.

In December, he canceled a third visit in six months to Lebanon after being diagnosed positive for Covid-19.

With AFP

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