Lebanese politicians might get targeted with a travel ban to Europe as part of sanctions being studied by the European Union and the United States.
Sanctions against Lebanese figures are considered “a serious option” for Europe, according to a high-ranking French source quoted by journalist Randa Takieddine in a tweet on Thursday.
“There will be no problem at the European Union in Brussels. We will negotiate the names and the sanctions,” the source told Takieddine.
“An unofficial travel ban to Europe can be imposed by preventing visas through the Schengen mechanism,” he explained.
Recent reports have indicated that the U.S. and the EU are preparing to impose new sanctions on Lebanese politicians.
The threat of sanctions has loomed above Lebanon’s ruling class for months, as world powers continue to push for the formation of a rescue government capable of enacting necessary reforms to unlock international support and kickstart Lebanon’s recovery.
Some politicians, including former and current officials, have already been hit with sanctions.
In an attempt to maximize the pressure, over a hundred Lebanese civil society activists and influential figures have sent an open letter to French President Emmanuel Macron, calling for the freezing of assets in France that belong to Lebanese politicians.
