In France‘s latest move to shake things up in Lebanon’s stagnant political scene, it will be banning Lebanese politicians suspected of corruption and blocking the government formation from entry.
According to French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, France “has started to put in place measures restricting access to French territory for people implicated in the political blockage under way, or implicated in corruption.”
Le Drian did not disclose details about how many Lebanese officials would be affected by the decision or what exactly the restrictions would be. However, he made one thing clear, sanctions are still on the table.
“We reserve the possibility to adopt additional measures toward all those who are hindering a solution to the crisis,” he said, according to AP.
In March, a French diplomat told a local newspaper that Western authorities including France and the United States were considering imposing sanctions to increase pressure on Lebanese officials.
In 2020, the United States already sanctioned several Lebanese officials and businesses affiliated with Iran-backed Hezbollah, including the former minister and son-in-law of President Michel Aoun, Gebran Bassil.
It has been over 6 months since Saad Hariri was nominated Prime Minister-designate tasked with forming a government in line with the French initiative that would help carry Lebanon to safety.
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