French President Emmanuel Macron has called on Lebanon to swiftly form a new government, following the appointment of its new prime minister. Lebanon’s former ambassador to Germany, Mustapha Adib, has taken on the new role with the backing of most MPs.
Senior Lebanese officials say Mr Macron’s mediation has been crucial in reaching consensus on the appointment. The last government resigned following the devastating explosion in the capital, Beirut, on 4 August.
At least 190 people were killed by the blast, caused by the detonation of 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored unsafely at the city’s port.
Mr Macron arrived in Beirut on Monday night for his second visit since the disaster.
Speaking to reporters, he said a new government should be formed “as soon as possible” – something that Mr Adib has already promised. But rather than immediately sitting down with the country’s politicians, Mr Macron instead visited the legendary Lebanese singer Fairuz.
The president awarded the 85-year-old diva, who is a rare unifying figure in the country, with France’s Legion of Honour.
On Tuesday morning, the president joined celebrations to mark Lebanon’s centenary by planting a cedar tree – Lebanon’s national symbol – in the Jaj forest. The Elysée Palace said Mr Macron wanted to show his “confidence in the future of the country”.
The area of present-day Lebanon had been part of the Turkish-ruled Ottoman Empire until the latter’s defeat in World War One, after which Lebanon came under the control of France – one of the victorious allied powers.
France was granted a mandate for Lebanon by the newly created League of Nations, and on 1 September 1920, it declared the establishment of the State of Greater Lebanon. The country (renamed the Lebanese Republic) declared independence from France in 1943.
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