BEIRUT (Reuters) – Lebanon runs the risk of being “banished” by the international community if the presidential vacancy, which has lasted for almost a year, continues, warned Jean-Yves Le Drian on Tuesday, appointed in June, Emmanuel Macron’s special envoy for Lebanon, in an interview with the daily newspaper L’Orient-Le Jour.
Lebanon has no longer had a president since the end of Michel Aoun’s mandate in October 2022. Since then, the very divided Parliament has failed 12 times to elect a successor.
In his interview with L’Orient-Le Jour, Jean-Yves Le Drian said he was planning a series of “consultations/consultations” with Lebanese political actors.
“Following the consultations, I hope that Speaker (of Parliament) Nabih Berry will convene Parliament for consecutive and open sessions, as he has publicly committed to doing. All this should be done in the coming weeks,” says -he.
“I hope that the actors are aware that we must find a way out, otherwise they will be ostracized by the international community. No one will want to see them anymore and it will no longer be worth seeking support here or there,” he adds.
The failure to elect a new president has worsened tensions in Lebanon, already mired in a deep economic crisis and facing unprecedented political paralysis.
The country has failed to implement reforms needed to secure $3 billion in funding from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which blamed “vested interests” for the lack of progress. .
Jean-Yves Le Drian warned on Tuesday that the five countries – the United States, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt – engaged in a process of support for Lebanon were considering reconsidering their aid.
“The five wonder how long they will continue to help Lebanon.”
(Reporting by Maya Gebeily; Blandine Hénault for the French version, edited by Jean-Stéphane Brosse)
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