EU diplomat: mistrust at core of Lebanon political crisis

The European Union’s foreign policy chief says a struggle for power and strong mistrust is at the heart of the fight between Lebanese political leaders and the deadlock over government formation for months

BEIRUT -- A struggle for power and strong mistrust is at the heart of the fight between Lebanese political leaders and the deadlock over government formation, the European Union’s foreign policy chief said Sunday. “It is clear a fight for the distribution of power and I have to say there is also strong mistrust,” Josep Borrell told a group of reporters before leaving Beirut. “It is difficult to get an agreement between people that don’t trust each other." A power struggle has emerged between premier-designate Saad Hariri, named to the post in October, one one side, and President Michel Aoun and his son-in-law Gebran Bassil, who heads the largest bloc in parliament, on the other. The top leaders locked horns over the shape of the government while the country's economic problems, unfolding since late 2019, worsened. The European Union foreign policy chief was in Lebanon for two days where he met with political, security and military leaders. He delivered a strong message that forming a government is a matter of urgency as the small country is on the verge of total financial collapse.