Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun voiced hopes on Tuesday that a new president is elected within the constitutional deadline to succeed him when his term ends on October 31.
Aoun said he “hopes the presidential elections are held within the constitutional timeframe,” in order for him to hand the post to the new President before his tenure ends, a presidential statement said.
Aoun emphasized that electing a new head of state is the responsibility of lawmakers, “they must set their choices,” he said.
His remarks came during a meeting with Anne Guéguen, Director of North Africa and the Middle East at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and in the presence of French Ambassador to Lebanon Anne Grillo.
He stressed Lebanon’s keenness on implementing the reforms demanded by the International Monetary Fund in order for the crisis-hit country to get the assistance needed.
We “are keen on implementing the reforms that Lebanon pledged to the IMF, mainly the restructuring of Lebanese banks, Capital Control and amending the banking secrecy law, now that the Parliament has approved the 2022 budget law," said Aoun.
On the delayed formation of a new cabinet, he said that contacts are underway to form a new government and that obstacles hindering its formation are being eased.
On her part, Guéguen emphasized France’s keenness on extending various kinds of assistance to Lebanon, stressing the importance of staging the presidential elections on time in order to avoid a vacuum at the top head of state position.
She also said that reforms and reaching an agreement with the International Monetary Fund are key to steering the crisis-hit country out of its struggles.
On the maritime demarcation indirect talks between Lebanon and Israel, she said that an agreement would relay a message of confidence to the international community, which will in return have positive effects on its national economy.
