Lebanon can choose a president on its own, insists French official

The French Ambassador in Beirut, Emmanuel Bonn, insisted on Friday that Lebanon does not need Iran, Saudi Arabia or, indeed, France in order to nominate and choose a president, news agencies have reported. All that Lebanon needs, said the French diplomat, is national unity which can produce a new government and a new “productive” parliament.

Regarding the nomination of El-Emad Aoun by the leader of the Lebanese Forces Party, Samir Geagea, Mr Bonn said that he did not hear of any reservations from America, Saudi or his own government. Paris, he explained, hopes that the Lebanese themselves choose their president who can form a national unity government. He noted that France does not act on behalf of the Lebanese parties, but talks with all of them in order to create appropriate conditions for Lebanon to be stable.

Read: French foreign minister meets Hezbollah lawmakers in Beirut

Although the French government holds talks with Hezbollah, the ambassador pointed out that they are always “uneasy” due to “disagreement” on many issues. Nevertheless, said Bonn, talking to Hezbollah is important because it is an “essential part” of Lebanese politics and talks are conducted at different levels.