Patrick Durel, President Emmanuel Macron’s diplomatic advisor responsible for Lebanon, has been appointed French Ambassador to Iraq.
As for Anne-Claire Legendre, spokeswoman for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she has been appointed as President Macron’s diplomatic advisor at the Élysée Palace to replace Durel.
According to some reports, the only people left in the Élysée’s Lebanese cell are Director General of External Security (DGSE) Bernard Émié and President Macron’s diplomatic advisor, former ambassador Emmanuel Bonne, after former ambassador Pierre Duquesne retired and Patrick Durel took up his post in Iraq.
Furthermore, the activity of the Lebanese cell at the Élysée was reportedly suspended following the appointment of former minister Jean-Yves Le Drian as President Macron’s special envoy to Lebanon.
