Lebanon’s Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai called for forming an emergency, neutral and non-partisan cabinet to address the pending economic and financial crises, warning political forces against continuing to obstruct the creation of a new government.
During his Sunday sermon, he said that “seeing the outcry of the hungry people and the wounds of the injured Beirut following the August 4 explosion as the state remains silent, and facing the urgency of friendly nations to form a new government and embark on reforms, we are forced to ask fateful questions.”
“Is this persistence to obstruct the government formation and recklessness toward the interests of the people and the nation part of a plan to overthrow the State of Greater Lebanon?” he asked.
The patriarch said he could not find any purpose for the obstruction amid the unprecedented economic crisis, accusing political leaders of impoverishing the people and turning them into “beggars” and forcing the youth to immigrate.
He said the Church rejects any efforts that undermine partnership and turn Lebanon into an arena of conflict between regional rivals.
Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron’s advisor for North Africa and the Middle East, Patrick Durel, urged Lebanese officials “to expedite the formation of a competent government acceptable to all parties, in order to carry out the required reforms and restore the confidence of the international community.”
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