French President Emmanuel Macron’s personal representative for Lebanon, Jean-Yves le Drian, has been meeting with rival Lebanese politicians since arriving in Beirut on Tuesday, July 25, in the framework of his second mission aimed at reconciling stances to break the presidential deadlock.
The emissary met on Wednesday the leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, Gebran Bassil, at his home in Bayada, in the presence of French Ambassador to Lebanon Anne Grillo and MP Nada Boustani.
Le Drian also met Marada leader and Hezbollah-backed presidential candidate Sleiman Frangieh at the Beirut residence of his son, MP Tony Frangieh. Present at the meeting were Grillo and former minister Roni Araiji.
A statement issued by Frangieh’s press office described the meeting “during which all current issues were discussed, as cordial and positive.” “Ideas and possible solutions for getting the country out of the presidential crisis were also exchanged,” the statement said.
Upon his arrival on Tuesday, Le Drian met parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. He then met the leader of the Kataeb party, Samy Gemayel, the leader of the Progressive Socialist Party, Teymour Joumblatt and the president of the Independence Movement and former presidential candidate, Michel Moawad, at the Résidence des Pins, the residence of French ambassadors.
His visit, which comes nine days after the meeting of the Group of Five (France, United States, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt) in Doha, is scheduled to extend until Thursday.
During his first visit to Lebanon from June 21 to 24, Le Drian held talks with various political, religious and military leaders.
