Emmanuel Macron receives the Maronite patriarch and calls on Lebanon to "break the deadlock"

Emmanuel Macron spoke Tuesday, May 30 in Paris with the influential Lebanese Maronite Patriarch Bechara Raï, whose "efforts" he supported in the face of Lebanon's "political impasse", calling on all the country's forces to get out "without delay".

The French president and the patriarch "shared their deep concerns about the crisis" and "the paralysis of institutions, fueled by the presidential vacancy for more than seven months," the Elysee reported. "They agreed on the need for a president of the Republic to be elected without delay," it was added in Paris. Emmanuel Macron spoke in particular of "the need" that the Christians of Lebanon "remain at the center of the confessional and institutional balance of the Lebanese state".

'Breaking the political deadlock'

The Lebanese president is traditionally chosen from among the Maronite community and the patriarch pleads for a candidate creating consensus, while differences between the powerful Shiite Hezbollah and its opponents prevent the election of a successor to Michel Aoun whose mandate expired on October 31. Coming from the Vatican where he had met the Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the head of the most influential Christian community in the country discussed during his one-hour meeting at the Elysee Palace "ways to bring opinions closer together," said the entourage of Patriarch Rai.

According to the French presidency, Emmanuel Macron stressed that "the blockage" was "an obstacle" to reforms "without which there can be no recovery and lasting stability in Lebanon". "The President of the Republic expressed his support for the continued efforts of Patriarch Rai and called for joint efforts by all political forces to break the current political deadlock without delay," his office added.

Reaching an agreement

Hezbollah does not have the necessary majority in parliament to impose its candidate, former minister Sleiman Frangie. His opponents, notably from Christian parties, also failed to impose their candidate, Michel Moawad. The France, which has very strong ties with Lebanon, says it does not support any candidate. But Lebanese officials say Paris supports the election of Sleiman Frangie, accompanied by the appointment of a reformist prime minister, who must be from the Sunni Muslim community.

In his homily on Sunday, the patriarch welcomed the fact that some parliamentary blocs would be close to agreeing on a candidate "who could meet Lebanon's needs and inspire confidence in Lebanon and abroad." According to Lebanese officials who requested anonymity, the Christian parties are trying to reach an agreement to nominate Jihad Azour, Middle East and Central Asia director for the International Monetary Fund (IMF).