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Macron to Lebanon's Leaders: Make Changes in 3 Months or Face Sanctions

VOA News

   French President Emmanuel Macron has given Lebanese politicians three
   months to take concrete steps to rebuild the country, or face sanctions
   and lose out on crucial aid.

   Macron has been central to international efforts to help Lebanon
   recover from a deep-rooted economic and political crisis arising from
   decades of mismanagement and corruption, a persistent pandemic, and a
   [1]deadly explosion in capital city Beirut last month.
   "It's a risky bet I'm making, I am aware of it," Macron told Politico
   in an [2]interview Monday night. "I am putting the only thing I have on
   the table: my political capital."
   Macron was in the Middle Eastern country, a former French protectorate,
   for the second time since the August 4 blast that destroyed much of its
   main port, a lifeline for a country heavily reliant on food imports.
   Macron told Politico the next three months are "fundamental" to the
   process of making real change and forming a government in Lebanon. He
   said he wanted Lebanese political party leaders to make credible
   commitments to that end, including a concrete schedule for introducing
   changes and a parliamentary election within "six to 12 months."
   Macron said he would make "demanding" follow-ups on Lebanese political
   leaders. If the responses were found lacking, he threatened sanctions
   on the country's ruling class, and said he would withhold critical aid,
   pledged at a 2018 donor conference in Paris, until donors are
   satisfied.
   Lebanese politicians hastily agreed Monday on a new prime minister,
   Mustapha Adib, hours before Macron's arrival, but after weeks of French
   pressure. The country's previous [3]government resigned in the
   aftermath of the Beirut explosion.
   Macron said he was not personally involved in decision-making and was
   instead pushing for change by visiting Lebanon often and threatening to
   impose sanctions or withhold aid.

References

   1. https://www.voanews.com/episode/lebanon-drone-images-show-devastated-beirut-4387036
   2. https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/01/emmanuel-macron-france-lebanon-406793
   3. https://www.voanews.com/middle-east/lebanese-government-resigns-following-beirut-blast

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