Icon: enlarge
Emmanuel Macron: "I tell the Lebanese people that France will not let them down"
Photo: POOL / REUTERS
In Lebanon's severe crisis, France pledged aid to the country - if there were political reforms.
After the failed government formation on Saturday, they seem to be postponed further.
French President Emmanuel Macron does not like it at all, he has now made serious accusations against the Lebanese political leadership.
With the failure of the formation of a government, the Lebanese politicians had broken their promises made after the explosion in the port of Beirut and committed "collective betrayal," said Macron on Sunday in Paris to place partisan and individual interests above the general interest of the country. "
The plan agreed in Beirut at the beginning of September continues to apply and is not off the table, according to Macron.
There is now one "last chance" to form a government.
As agreed, there should be a new conference with the United Nations and international partners by the end of October to mobilize international aid for Beirut.
Macron also said France was on the side of Lebanon.
"I tell the Lebanese people that France will not abandon them."
Macron is not yet talking about sanctions
In response to a journalist's question, Macron refused to bring sanctions into play - but did not completely rule them out as an option.
Lebanon's prime minister-designate Mustapha Adib is a sincere and respectable man who has done what he can under difficult conditions, Macron said.
The political groups would have made it impossible to form a transitional government.
Macron denounced the "system of corruption" to which everyone who had previously benefited from it wanted to hold on.
"Today there are a few dozen people in the process of bringing down a country," said Macron.
His criticism was also directed at Iran-backed Hezbollah: Hezbollah should "not think that it is more powerful than it is," said Macron.
In the past few days, the Shiite group has shown that they do not respect all Lebanese equally.
The Lebanese government under Hassan Diab announced its resignation after the explosion on August 4, which left more than 190 dead and around 6,000 injured.
President Michel Aoun then assigned 48-year-old Adib to form a government.
The attempt failed.
France had promised urgently needed aid to the country, which is in a serious economic and financial crisis, but in return called for far-reaching reforms.
Icon: The mirror
ptz / dpa / Reuters