France presses at UN for new Lebanon government

Political forces have still not succeeded in agreeing to form a government. Strong, convergent pressures are therefore needed from us to push Lebanese officials to respect their commitments, says French minister

France urged international pressure to form a new government in Lebanon, as frustration grows with the pace of reform in the wake of the giant Beirut port explosion.

“The political forces have still not succeeded in agreeing to form a government,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told a video conference meeting on Lebanon on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

“Strong and convergent pressures are therefore needed from us to push Lebanese officials to respect their commitments,” he added.

“These convergent efforts must continue as long as necessary,” he said.

The meeting gathered members of the international support group for Lebanon including UN chief Antonio Guterres, World Bank head David Malpass and world powers including France, Germany, Britain, Italy, the United States, Russia, China, the European Union and the Arab League.

President Emmanuel Macron, who has visited the former French colony twice in the wake of the explosion, had repeatedly urged the Lebanese not to waste any more time in forming a government.