Le Drian in Lebanon to help 'break out of political deadlock'

BEIRUT — Jean-Yves Le Drian, French President Emmanuel Macron's special envoy for Lebanon, said on Thursday from the Maronite patriarchate in Bkirki that he is on a "mission to listen and consult" with Lebanese leaders to help the country "break out immediately" from its political stalemate.

The country has been without a president for nearly eight months and is collapsing under the weight of a years-long financial crisis. 

After arriving in Beirut on Wednesday afternoon, Le Drian held talks with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai.

"We shared our concerns about the political deadlock, but also about the consequences of the economic crisis and the social crisis affecting all Lebanese," Le Drian told the press after his Thursday meeting with Rai. "I also explained to him the meaning of my mission. I've been to Lebanon several times, and it's for this reason and for the affection I have for this country that the President of the Republic wanted me to undertake a mission of consultation, a mission of listening and a mission of attention to help this country break the political deadlock."

'Not bearing option'

"It's in this spirit that I'm here, I don't come bearing any options, I'm going to listen to everyone," Le Drian said. "I hope that everyone will be able to come together, because the solution must come first and foremost from the Lebanese, and France will always be there to support them."

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Le Drian added that this trip to Beirut would be followed by other visits to Lebanon, without specifying a date.

Later on Thursday, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea also met with the French envoy after which he said that "the issue of the presidency needs 128 deputies, and the file does not require international intervention."

He described the French delegate's tour as "reconnaissance," pointing out that he "asked questions about various matters and had no proposal to put forward."

"All we are looking for is for the deputies to be in a correct position in the manner of work," Geagea said. "Despite my love for France, we do not want its interference, nor Iran's."

'Internal sovereign decision'

"We want an internal sovereign decision. We only want to elect a president, but unfortunately, some obstructed what the result could have been decisive, and they want to direct us to elect the former minister Sleiman Franjieh, and this will not happen," he added.

During his meeting with Mikati at the Grand Serail, Le Drian gave a "clear picture of the situation in Lebanon and of France's efforts to put an end to the political crisis."

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"The solution lies in the election of a new president," Mikati said, according to a statement from his press office.

Regarding Lebanon's financial crisis, Mikati added that his caretaker cabinet had "approved the requested reforms and signed a preliminary agreement with the International Monetary Fund."

Lebanon signed a staff-level agreement last year for a multi-billion-dollar IMF loan, but it still has not passed the required reforms to unlock funds.

"The aim of this first visit to Lebanon is to sound out the situation and see how we can help find solutions," Le Drian said.

Frangieh and Bassil

Marada Movement leader and presidential candidate Sleiman Frangieh was invited by Le Drian for lunch at the Residence des Pins (the French ambassador's residence).

Frangieh tweeted after the meeting, stating that it had been “positive and the dialogue constructive for the next stage.”

Le Drian also met with Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Gebran Bassil at the latter's residence in Bayyada.

On Wednesday evening, the diplomat had a "frank and good meeting" with Berri, according to an official statement.

Le Drian is also due to meet the representatives of the protest movement and Hezbollah. A stopover is also planned in Yarze for a meeting with army chief Joseph Aoun.

At the end of this first mission, Jean-Yves Le Drian will draw up a report for President Macron with potential solutions.

A French diplomatic source told L'Orient-Le Jour that a further trip to Lebanon is scheduled for the summer.

Paris tasked Le Drian two weeks ago with finding a way out of the political impasse in Lebanon. His tour of Lebanon comes a week after the 12th failed presidential electoral session in Parliament, which ended in a near-draw between the two main candidates, the opposition's Jihad Azour, and Hezbollah's pick, Sleiman Frangieh.

His visit also follows Friday's meeting between Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohamad bin Salman in Paris, where they reportedly discussed Lebanon.