In response to a speech by Lebanese President Michel Aoun calling on him to either form a government or resign, Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri said in a tweet on Twitter that he was surprised by the televised speech call on education the government immediately.
He added that if President Aoun is unable to sign the decrees forming a government of impartial specialists, he must tell the Lebanese the real reason that leads him to try to disrupt the will of parliament, who elected the appointed president and who has prevented him for many months from making room for the formation of a government and calls for early presidential elections.
Hariri said he was surprised, as was the surprise of all Lebanese, “by His Excellency the President when he gave me a televised speech in front of the Republican Palace to invite me to immediately form (the government) in agreement with him according to the approved mechanism and the constitutional standards, “Hariri said on Twitter.
The Lebanese President Michel Aoun presented Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri with two options on Wednesday evening, either to form the government “immediately” or to resign from the task assigned to him in October. However, political disputes prevented their conclusion.
Aoun said in a televised address: “In agreement with me, I invite him to the Baabda Palace for the immediate formation of a government, adding:” As if he were unable to compose and preside over a national salvation government. Cope with the dangerous conditions that land and people sufferIt has to give way to anyone who can compose. “
A call to European and American action
In the Lebanese Act, a French diplomatic source announced on Wednesday that Europeans and Americans should increase “pressure” on the Lebanese political class to form a new government, and this could also be done through “sanctions”. “The pressure on the political leaders should be greatly increased. This will be the work of the coming weeks,” the diplomat told reporters. “We will not move alone, but with our European partners and the Americans,” he added.
French President Emmanuel Macron intervened heavily in the Lebanese acts without making any progress to find a way out of the political crisis in that country.
The arrival of the new administration in Washington has mixed the cards a bit, despite continued US opposition to any contact with the powerful Lebanese Hezbollah in the Lebanese political arena.
Since the government resigned after the massive explosion that struck the port of Beirut on March 4th, the political class has failed to form a new government capable of reforming the country while the country is on the verge of economic chaos.
“Legitimate Penalties”
And the French diplomatic source added that it was in this atmosphere that “the question of sanctions” is being raised, imposed on Lebanese officials, which impede any political progress. “The issue of sanctions was not a priority in August and September, but after six or seven months it became legitimate,” the source said.
The collapse of the Lebanese currency has forced many grocery stores to temporarily close in the past 24 hours, adding to fears that the country is heavily dependent on imports due to an impending food shortage.
Grocery stores across Germany have closed their doors, stopped online delivery services or restricted customer orders. Others stayed open, but weren’t sure how long.
The price of the lira fell to 15,000 against the dollar on Tuesday and has lost a third of its value in the past two weeks. It has fallen by 90 percent since the end of 2019.
Currency collapse
“If this situation continues, the raw materials will go away and the traders will prioritize what they get . We have to reduce purchases in terms of types and quantities because we cannot find any money,” said Hani Bahsali, head of food importers Syndicate.
He estimates that deliveries to Lebanon will take about two months while it is becoming increasingly difficult for importers who need to continue shopping to obtain dollars.
The collapse of the economy has plunged many into poverty and has been the major threat to stability since the 1975-1990 civil war.
Social media users share video clips of fights in stores, such as a fight between a man and a woman trying to buy powdered milk.
The vice president of the Federation of Ovens and Bakeries in Lebanon said bakeries are currently supplying bread but cannot continue indefinitely without a solution. Lebanon imports almost all of its wheat needs.
Ali Ibrahim, who tried to resign two weeks ago, said in a statement: “If we continue at this pace, we will eventually have to make a forced stop until the dollar stabilizes.”
Specter Lift support
Many shops in Lebanon had already closed due to the coronavirus pandemic and the streets were blocked during anti-government demonstrations. But as of this week most of the grocery stores were still open. Many of them offer online delivery.
Lebanon’s central bank has pulled back its already meager foreign exchange reserves to support basic commodity categories: wheat, fuel, and medicine, as well as a basket of other basic commodities, as dollar flows continue to dry up. The central bank is making hard currency available to importers at the old peg of 1,500 pounds to the dollar.
The fast running out of money country has announced several times that the grant will be lifted soon, but has not yet given a timetable or announced a plan for it.
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