"It is up to the Lebanese authorities to take the destiny of their country in hand."

While Lebanon is plunged into an unprecedented socio-economic crisis, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian, accused, Thursday, March 11, during a press conference, the country's political leaders of " non-assistance to countries in danger ". 

"I would be tempted to qualify the Lebanese political leaders of non-assistance to countries in danger, all as much as they are", declared Jean-Yves Le Drian, denouncing the inaction of the political class vis-a-vis the risk "of collapse " from the country.

On #Lebanon, I am torn between sadness, anger and anguish.

We cannot take the place of the Lebanese political forces which, for the moment, are responsible for non-assistance to countries in danger.

There is still time to act, tomorrow it will be too late.

pic.twitter.com/narHfBd2OB

- Jean-Yves Le Drian (@JY_LeDrian) March 11, 2021

"It is up to the Lebanese authorities to take the destiny of their country in hand, knowing that the international community is watching with anguish [the situation deteriorating]", he warned, a new expression of the pressure that France is trying. to put for months on the Lebanese political leaders so that they form a government, for the moment without success.

"If Lebanon collapsed it would be a disaster for the Lebanese […] for the Palestinian and Syrian refugees, and for the whole region. There is still time to act, because tomorrow it will be too late", he warned.

Pressure from the international community

Almost seven months after the explosion that ravaged the port of Beirut and destroyed entire districts of the capital on August 4, 2020, Lebanon is still plunged into political paralysis, while the country is economically sinking and is shaken by many. manifestations and unrest.

The government resigned after the explosion, but it still manages day-to-day business.

Saad Hariri, appointed Prime Minister at the end of October, has still not formed his team, in a country used to endless political haggling.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who has visited Lebanon twice since the explosion in Beirut, has tried, so far unsuccessfully, to wrestle the formation of a government ready to embark on structural reforms to exit the Lebanon from the political and social rut.

The international community has prepared an aid plan subject to certain conditions, including the establishment of a government.

The United States, which since the arrival of Joe Biden at the White House in January assures to be on the same line as Paris in the file of Lebanon, also expressed Thursday its "concern" about "the apparent inaction of the Lebanese leaders in the face of multiple ongoing crises ".

"The Lebanese deserve a government which urgently implements the reforms necessary to save the economy of the country which continues to deteriorate", and which "is in crisis due to decades of corruption and bad governance", declared to the press in Washington the spokesman for American diplomacy, Ned Price.

"The political leaders of Lebanon must put aside their partisan bidding and change their attitude, they must work for the general interest of the Lebanese," he added.

With AFP

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