Lebanese President Michel Aoun demanded Saturday (November 7) for “
evidence
” after the imposition of American sanctions against his son-in-law Gebran Bassil, a former minister, for “
corruption
”.
Read also: The merciless return of Saad Hariri to Lebanon
The US Treasury announced the day before financial sanctions against the influential politician, an ally of the powerful Shiite movement Hezbollah - described as a "
terrorist
"
organization
by Washington - accusing him of "
corruption
" and embezzlement.
President Aoun "
asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs to obtain the evidence and documents that prompted the US Treasury to formulate charges
" against Gebran Bassil, the Lebanese presidency said on Twitter.
"
These documents must be submitted to the Lebanese justice so that it can take the necessary measures in the case of the veracity of these data
", added the presidency.
Gebran Bassil held several ministerial posts before sitting in the Assembly, at the head of the largest parliamentary bloc.
"
The corruption of the Lebanese political system embodied by Bassil has helped to erode the foundations of an effective government
," commented on Friday (November 6th) US Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin following the announcement of the sanctions.
In the fall of 2019, Lebanon experienced an unprecedented popular uprising against the entire ruling class, accused of corruption and incompetence.
During these demonstrations, Gebran Bassil was one of the personalities most shouted at by the street.
"
The sanctions do not scare me
", he reacted Friday on Twitter.
See also
- Lebanon: demonstrators protest against the appointment of Saad Hariri as prime minister
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