Macron gives Lebanon ultimatum over government formation
French President Emmanuel Macron has given Lebanese political leaders an ultimatum to form a new government within six weeks.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister-designate Mustapha Adib announced his resignation on Saturday amid a deadlock over the government formation in the crisis-hit country.
Macron, who had threatened Lebanese leaders with sanctions if they did not submit to reforms and a “political change,” said on Sunday he was "ashamed of Lebanon's political leaders".
Speaking at at a news conference devoted to Lebanon in Paris on Sunday, Macron said the Lebanese political leaders had “decided to betray this commitment” to form a government by mid-September.
Macron also accused the Lebanese authorities and political forces of favoring “their partisan and individual interests to the detriment of the general interest of the country".
The French president had initially proposed a roadmap to Lebanese authorities to unlock billions of dollars in funds from the international community during his colonial-style sojourn in Lebanon that followed Beirut's cataclysmic blast in August.
The visit was slammed by many Twitter users over what they deemed as interference in the internal affairs of Lebanon, which gained independence from the French colonial rule more than seven decades ago.
On Sunday, Macron gave political leaders 4-6 weeks to form a new government.
When asked whether sanctions were on the table, Macron said he would only consider them at a later stage in conjunction with other powers as he could not see their use for now.
He stressed that the French initiative “will persist”.
"It is now up to Lebanese officials to seize this last chance themselves," the French president said.
Adib’s resignation came almost a month after he was appointed by the president to form a new government.
Lebanon is currently mired in the country’s worst economic and financial crisis in its modern history.
Hezbollah attacks Israeli forces after Lebanese homes blown up
Israel issues new evacuation orders, shortly launches strikes on southern Lebanon
Hezbollah to target Tel Aviv in response to Israeli attacks on Beirut: Sheikh Qassem
Iranians protest against Israel after Netanyahu ICC warrant
Germany undecided on complying with ICC arrest warrants for Israeli war criminals
VIDEO | Former FBI agent criticizes US Congress for 'outright corruption'
IRGC chief urges Muslim countries to cut aid routes to Israel
'New chapter in cooperation': Iran, Venezuela sign new MoUs
Jordan sentences former lawmaker for supporting Palestinian resistance
Basij volunteer forces hold massive drills in southwestern Iran
Israeli war criminals 'not welcome', US city says after ICC ruling
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
