France interfering in Lebanon’s internal affairs: Report
The French special envoy to Lebanon has been pushing for an extension of the Lebanese army chief’s term on behalf of the ‘five-nation group’ on Lebanon
News Desk | DEC 1, 2023
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The leader of Lebanon’s Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), Gebran Bassil, held a heated conversation on 30 November with France’s special envoy to the country, Jean-Yves Le Drian, who is currently visiting the Lebanese capital.
“The French envoy was swift in moving from the discussion of the presidential file, which is supposed to be the core of his mission, to the issue of extending the term of General (Joseph) Aoun,” Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar reported on 1 December.
“Le Drian stressed that vacuum in the army command would harm Lebanon’s security and the security of France and Europe,” it added.
According to the report, Bassil was surprised by “France’s interference in the appointment of an army chief in Lebanon, asking the French guest about the logic behind his call for violating the law and the constitution.” (...)