On Tuesday, Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met with the French presidential envoy to Lebanon, Jean-Yves Le Drian, as reported by the French embassy in Qatar on Wednesday. The meeting emphasized a "unified will to work together to support Lebanon and its people," and both sides stressed the urgency of electing a president for the republic "as soon as possible," according to the embassy's statement.
French President Emmanuel Macron decided to send Le Drian to Lebanon at this time because he is convinced that Lebanese leaders need to expedite filling the presidential vacancy more than ever. After the October 7 attack and the Gaza war, the current situation in southern Lebanon cannot persist, and Lebanon must prepare for negotiations that will certainly occur regarding Resolution 1701; thus, the presidential vacuum cannot continue.
