Beirut: “The Gulf”
Sources suggested that the new Lebanese government would be born before next October, in the form of a modified version of the current government. The sources expressed their satisfaction with “what reigns in the atmosphere of the presidential palace and government buildings, the determination to quickly establish a government.” Not very reassuring statements begin to circulate according to which the President of the Republic has not abandoned any of his conditions.
He stressed that speculation about the new government continued in this atmosphere, and it was likely to be born before next October, in the form of a modified form of the current government, saying: “That is, if we are to speak in the face of a government reshuffle, that is, a government formation modified in some way by the government ”.
Lebanese President Michel Aoun held, during a meeting with the ambassadors of the European Union, that “political and economic reasons are at the forefront of the crisis factors Lebanon is witnessing”, referring to the “corruption that has plagued the” system “that he ruled in the past, as well as making mistakes in managing money in the Central Bank”, stressing that “Lebanon today needs political and sovereign reforms.” Aoun explained that he is “working to form a government with full powers that , in the event of a presidential vacancy after 31 October, he will assume the full powers of the president “.
After the Aoun meeting, the European Union ambassador to Lebanon, Ralph Tarraf, yesterday expressed his deep concern about the current situation in Lebanon and called for it to be addressed with decisive and courageous measures.
“We share the feeling of many Lebanese, especially decision makers, that the current situation is very delicate and full of challenges, but it can and must be addressed through decisive and courageous measures,” said Tarraf. The European diplomat underlined “the need to pay more attention to the reconstruction of the economic, financial and monetary space in Lebanon as a first step to bring the economy back on the road to recovery”.
Tarraf indicated that “the consensus is that the International Monetary Fund has the appropriate skills and tools and can be a partner in the reconstruction of this space”, noting that “there is no better solution than the International Monetary Fund”.
He also stressed the need for reforms, including restructuring of the financial sector, describing them as “necessary to protect small depositors”.
Ambassador Tarraf reiterated “the support of the European Union and its member states and their constant readiness to support Lebanon in this difficult phase in the context of a potential International Monetary Fund program”.
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