In Lebanon, Macron calls for a "mission government"

Emmanuel Macron upon his arrival in Beirut, Lebanon, August 31, 2020. -

This is his second visit in less than a month.

French President Emmanuel Macron called for the establishment of a "mission government" as soon as possible upon his arrival in Lebanon on Monday evening, a few hours after the appointment of a new prime minister in this country stuck in a deep political and economic crisis.

“I saw that a process had started in recent hours which allowed a figure to emerge as Prime Minister.

It is not for me to approve or to dub it (…) but to make sure that it is indeed a mission government that will be formed as quickly as possible to implement the reforms ”, declared Emmanuel Macron. upon arrival at Beirut airport.

"My position is always the same, that of the requirement without interference," he added.

The objective of the French president's visit, the second since the tragic explosion of August 4, is to try to help get the country out of the doldrums but also to celebrate the first centenary of Greater Lebanon, proclaimed in its current borders. by the French General Henri Gouraud on September 1, 1920. "We will have the opportunity tomorrow, not simply to commemorate, but to try to learn all the lessons and to project ourselves towards the future", declared the chief of the state.

Ambassador to Germany appointed Prime Minister

A few hours before the arrival of the French president, Lebanon acquired a new prime minister, its current ambassador to Germany Moustapha Adib, who pledged to apply without delay the reforms demanded by the international community.

Adib, a little-known 48-year-old academic, however, was chosen as usual by most traditional parliamentary forces during consultations at the presidential palace.

"The time has come for action", declared the new Prime Minister, pledging to train in "record time" a team of "experts" who will "quickly lead the reforms (...), with the point of starting an agreement with the International Monetary Fund ”(IMF).

In a press release, the IMF soberly welcomed his appointment, and repeated its wish to see the Lebanese authorities respond to the urgency of the crisis.

Visit of Fairouz

Just after his arrival, Emmanuel Macron found the iconic singer Fairouz, a rare symbol of national unity, in his residence located in Rabieh, in the suburbs of Beirut.

He decorated the Lebanese diva with the Legion of Honor, and received in return a canvas.

“It was very beautiful and very strong.

I told her everything she represented for me, of a Lebanon (…) loved and dreamed of ”, he said at the microphone of a local television station after a visit of more than one hour.

Emmanuel Macron was subsequently briefly met with an excited crowd.

“No to an emergency government” or even “No cabinet by or with the murderers”, could be read on the signs held up by the demonstrators who were waiting for him.

“We are a free people” and “Moustapha Adib, no!

“Chanted the crowd in French, greeted by Macron.

The French head of state ended his day with a meeting at midnight with former Prime Minister Saad Hariri at the Residence des pins, that of the French ambassador.

"Secular state"?

Moustapha Adib was chosen Sunday by the heavyweights of the Sunni community, from which the head of government must come, the presidency going according to the Constitution to a Maronite Christian and the presidency of the Parliament to a Shia Muslim.

This choice was quickly criticized by the popular protest movement.

"No trust in those who continue to cling to their posts and their palaces, as we bury our victims and heal our wounds," tweeted Jad Chaaban, a university professor, referring to the explosion at the port. of Beirut which left at least 188 dead and more than 6,500 injured.

"The biography of Moustapha Adib clearly shows that he is a man of the system, and that he owes his nomination to the traditional parties", comments Nadim Houry, director of the Arab Reform Initiative, a research center.

His predecessor Hassan Diab resigned on August 10, a few days after the explosion, which increased the anger of the population tenfold.

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