Report: Paris leading endeavor to facilitate Lebanon's presidential election

Although France does not have a comprehensive initiative concerning the Lebanese presidential elections, it is exploring the stances of the various parties in a bid to secure consensus among them, media reports said.

In remarks published Wednesday, Al-Akhbar newspaper reported that France is keen on reaching an agreement with Saudi Arabia that would facilitate the election of a president.

Al-Akhbar said that French Ambassador to Lebanon Anne Grillo will also be briefed on the results of the call between French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman regarding Lebanon.

Grillo had arrived in Paris a few days ago to prepare for Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil's visit to France and to brief the French leadership on the results of her talks with Lebanese parties over the presidential file, governmental challenges and economic issues, the report said.

Grillo had held meetings, in the past few days, away from the spotlight, with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat, and with figures from the opposition forces backing MP Michel Mouawad, al-Akhbar said.

The daily added that Grillo had also met with a senior Hezbollah official and with Bassil.