Paris pushes bickering Beirut parties to end political impasse
Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian says France will take action against officials blocking progress
French Foreign Minister JeanYves Le Drian met Lebanese President Michel Aoun on Thursday, in the latest effort by Paris to put pressure on the country’s political parties to form a Cabinet.
Mr Le Drian said a day before his arrival in Beirut that France would take punitive measures against those blocking the formation of a new government.
International aid pledged to help Lebanon tackle its economic crisis will not be available until a Cabinet is formed.
During his meeting with Mr Le Drian, Mr Aoun blamed prime minister-elect Saad
Hariri for the political impasse gripping Lebanon.
Mr Aoun said he would try to form a Cabinet that secured a vote of confidence in Parliament.
“President Aoun indicated that he will pursue efforts to attain practical results despite domestic and external obstacles, and a lack of co-operation by those concerned,” his office said, referring to Mr Hariri.
Mr Aoun said he also asked for France’s help to retrieve embezzled cash that has been channelled abroad and to crack down on corruption.
Last week, Mr Le Drian said measures were introduced to restrict the entry of some Lebanese officials to France in retaliation for their role in the political crisis that has left Lebanon without a fully functioning government for about eight months.
There has been no official announcement on what measures were taken, or on whom they were imposed.
French officials declined to give details.
Mr Le Drian also met Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
It remains unclear whether the French minister will meet Mr Hariri, who has been at loggerheads with Mr Aoun over the Cabinet’s composition and its reform agenda.
The political crisis has fuelled concerns that Mr Hariri might step down if the deadlock persists.
Mr Hariri accused Mr Aoun of blocking the formation of a Cabinet of non-partisan experts to undertake structural reforms, claims that Mr Aoun denied.
France leads international efforts to rescue Lebanon from its deepest crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war.
But eight months after the previous government resigned, soon after an explosion at Beirut’s port on August 4 killed more than 200 people, it has failed to convince squabbling politicians to adopt a reform agenda or form a new government to unlock international aid.
It is not clear what effect any punitive actions would have.
Several key Lebanese figures have dual nationality and could not be restricted, while others who could be accused of hindering the political process rarely travel to France.
Diplomats said the national punitive measures could have a negative effect by hardening positions in Beirut.
France has so far failed to persuade Lebanon’s politicians to adopt a reform agenda or form a new government