EU demands immediate steps to end political impasse

BEIRUT — The European Union’s foreign policy chief on Saturday berated Lebanese politicians for delays in forming a new Cabinet, warning the union could impose sanctions on those behind the political stalemate in the crisishit country.

Josep Borrell made his comments after meeting with President Michel Aoun. And they came amid reports that France and the EU are putting together proposals for possible travel bans and freezes on assets of some politicians.

Borrell said Lebanese politicians should quickly form a new government, implement reforms and reach a deal with the International Monetary Fund to get the country out of its paralyzing economic and financial crisis.

Lebanon’s economic crisis — triggered by decades of corruption and mismanagement — has intensified in recent months. The World Bank said this month that the economy contracted 20.3% in 2020 and is expected to shrink 9.5% this year.

Lebanon defaulted on paying back its debt for the first time in March, while talks with the International Monetary Fund on a bailout package stopped last year. The crisis has been the biggest threat to Lebanon’s stability since the 197590 civil war ended.

A power struggle has emerged between premierdesignate Saad Hariri on one side, and Aoun and his soninlaw Gebran Bassil, who heads the largest bloc in parliament, on the other. It has worsened the crisis despite warnings from world leaders and economic experts of the dire conditions tiny Lebanon is facing.

Hariri was named to form a new government in October and has not succeeded so far. The government of Prime Minister Hassan Diab resigned days after an enormous explosion in Beirut on Aug. 4, that killed 211 people and injured more than 6,000.

“We cannot understand that nine months after the resignation of a prime minister, there is still no government in Lebanon,” Borrell said. “Only an urgent agreement with the International Monetary Fund will rescue the country from a financial collapse.”

“There is no time to waste. You are at the edge of the financial collapse,” he said.

Borrell later met with Hariri, Diab and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. Borrell said the EU stands ready to assist Lebanon and its people but warned that if there is further obstruction to solutions to the crisis “we will have to consider other courses of actions” including possible sanctions.