Paoli Urges Timely Polls, Abu Faour Stresses Need for Consensus from Ain al-Tineh
French Ambassador to Lebanon Patrice Paoli on Tuesday announced that France does not interfere in the Lebanese debate over the electoral law, stressing the need for parliamentary elections to take place on time.
Following talks in Ain al-Tineh, Paoli quoted Speaker Nabih Berri as saying that “it is important to respect and advance the constitutional process and norms.”
The French envoy noted that “the Lebanese themselves must find solutions for this issue,” adding that Paris “encourages their will and efforts to find an electoral law that ensures holding elections on time.”
“We consider that France is not involved and does not interfere in the electoral draft laws and the Lebanese debate over the topic; it rather considers it a Lebanese domestic affair,” Paoli emphasized.
The French ambassador said he also discussed with Berri the issue of Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
“We hope as French and as a member of the European Union and the (U.N.) Security Council that everyone will abide by the U.N.'s resolutions and move to help the region's countries, especially Lebanon, in coping with the Syrian refugees' influx.”
Later on Tuesday, Berri held talks with MP Walid Jumblat's envoy Social Affairs Minister Wael Abu Faour.
As he stressed the importance of consensus over the electoral law, Abu Faour said: “We don't believe and Walid Jumblat doesn't believe that it is impossible to reach an electoral agreement that revives the constitutional and political life in the country.”
He called for “holding the parliamentary elections and forming a new government, which would further immunize stability in Lebanon, especially amid the events surrounding us that have repercussions on Lebanon.”
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