Macron Accuses Lebanon's Leaders of 'Betraying Pledges'

French President Emmanuel Macron today accused Lebanon's leaders of betraying their promises over the failure to form a government, against the pledges they made to him on September 1 during his second visit to Lebanon.

Speaking at a press conference in Paris, Macron said that the political elite had decided "to betray" their obligations and had committed "collective treason" by failing to form a government.

"They have decided to betray this commitment (to form a government)," Macron told reporters, declaring he was "ashamed" of the country's leaders.

"I see that the Lebanese authorities and political forces chose to favor their partisan and inpidual interests to the detriment of the general interest of the the country," he added.

Macron added, "The road map (announced) on the September 1st  remains the only initiative that has been taken at the national, regional and international levels ... It has not been withdrawn from the table (...) but it is coming back." Now, the Lebanese officials should seize this last opportunity. "

Earlier on Saturday, Lebanon's Prime Minister-designate Mustafa Adib apologized for the task of forming a new government in light of the parties' differences over ministerial portfolios, despite international pressure.

This apology pays a blow to the initiative launched by the French President after the tragic blast in the Beirut port on August 4.

[caption id="attachment_153028" align="aligncenter" width="354"] Macron during the press conference in Paris[/caption]

Adib's apology for the task of forming the government, came less than a month after his assignment. His efforts clashed, especially with the insistence of the Shiite duo represented by Hezbollah, the most prominent political and military force in the country, and its ally, the Amal Movement, led by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, to name their ministers and stick to the money bag.

According to the constitution, the Lebanese president must conduct new, binding parliamentary consultations to appoint a new prime minister to form the government. But this operation is again threatened by delay, and possibly failure again.