France is seeking the help of Saudi Arabia to close the ranks of the Sunni community and reinforce their political standing, regarded as necessary to facilitate the election of a president of the republic.
Following the departure of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri from political life in 2022 and the suspension of political action by his Future party, the Sunni community has remained without a meaningful leadership. France is keen to have an established Sunni authority, believing that it is not possible to elect a president in the absence of the Sunni political component.
The current Sunni representatives have been unable to establish themselves as a strong Sunni reference, as Hariri did. The community remains fragmented without leadership.
A French official believes that “the situation must be resolved within the Sunni community before a president is elected.”
According to informed sources the recent visit of French envoy for Lebanon, Jean-Yves Le Drian, to Riyadh, was aimed at urging Saudi Arabia to take the initiative to help unite Sunni ranks.
In a related information, French President Emmanuel Macron has reportedly decided, when international conditions are ripe, to elect a president for Lebanon and seek the help of an eminent and successful French businessman of Lebanese origin to lead the country, with a government consisting of a small team of independent Lebanese figures, some of whom work abroad. Its mission would be to develop a rescue plan, start implementing the required reforms and boost the private sector.
