French President Macron鈥檚 visit touches a chord in shellshocked Beirut

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks to the woman who asked him for help during his visit to Beirut鈥檚 devastated Gemmayzeh neighborhood. (AP)
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  • Emmanuel Macron was the first foreign leader to arrive in Lebanon after Tuesday鈥檚 devastating explosions
  • Mobbed by tearful Beirut crowds, French leader vowed that 鈥榓 free Lebanon will rise again鈥�

BEIRUT: French President Emmanuel Macron stood among the ruins of Beirut's shattered port yesterday and issued a harsh warning to Lebanese political leaders, saying that aid would not be delivered to 鈥渃orrupt hands.鈥�

鈥淟ebanon needs political change,鈥� the French leader said during his one-day visit on Thursday, adding that he is 鈥渘ot here to support the regime or the government.鈥�

Macron set the tone for his visit on his arrival at Beirut airport, saying that he would meet with Lebanese officials 鈥渙nly as a matter of courtesy鈥� and adding that 鈥淟ebanon鈥檚 crisis is a moral and political one.鈥�

Later he was mobbed by large crowds while touring the shattered streets near Beirut port, listening to the tearful complaints of people left homeless by the massive explosion two days ago that killed more than 150 people and injured more than 5,000.

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People chanted and applauded as one woman cried in French: 鈥淗elp us, Mr. President.鈥�

A few young men said: 鈥淭he people want to topple the regime,鈥� while others said: 鈥淒own with Hezbollah.鈥�


Confronted by a young woman who criticized him for meeting with corrupt officials, Macron pulled his face mask down and replied: 鈥淚 can guarantee that this assistance will not be placed in the hands of the corrupt, and a free Lebanon will rise again.鈥�

He held the hand of the woman who asked him for help.

Macron promised 鈥渦nconditional鈥� French assistance, but said: 鈥淲e will organize international aid so that it directly reaches the Lebanese people under UN supervision. I am here to launch a new political initiative. I will propose a new political decade during my meetings and I will return on Sept. 1 to follow up on it.鈥�

He added: 鈥淚 understand the anger of Lebanon鈥檚 people toward the ruling class, and this anger is caused by corruption. This explosion is the result of neglect, and I will help you change things.鈥�




French President Emmanuel Macron visited Beirut on Thursday, pledging support and urging change after massive explosions at the port devastated the Lebanese capital in a disaster that has sparked grief and fury. (AFP)

As crowds pressed forward to voice their concerns, the French leader delayed his meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun for over 30 minutes.

A young man said after Macron left: 鈥淭he French president checked on the Lebanese in the Francophone country 鈥� where are our officials? Why did they not come down here like the French president?鈥�

Macron was the first foreign leader to arrive in Lebanon after Tuesday鈥檚 disaster.

Ignoring his bodyguards, Macron broke from his timetable to walk along the devastated streets and wave at people who stood in the remnants of their balconies to salute France.

The French president insisted on inspecting the area devastated by the explosion before taking part in any political meetings. On his arrival in the capital, he tweeted: 鈥淟ebanon is not alone.鈥�

With the country facing economic meltdown, a currency crisis and now the threat of food shortages, the massive blast has left the Lebanese people stunned and even more fearful for the future.

Macron said that he carried a 鈥渇rank and strict message鈥� to the authorities amid Lebanon鈥檚 economic and financial crisis.

鈥淚f reforms are not carried out, Lebanon will continue to sink,鈥� he said.

The French delegation accompanying Macron included seven explosives specialists. They were later joined by 17 experts searching for people missing after the explosion or buried under rubble.

While Macron inspected the damage at the port, an officer from the French rescue team said that 鈥渢here is still hope for survivors to be found.




Crowds calling for political change surround the French leader during a visit to the Beirut port area. (AFP) 

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Hassan Diab joined the meeting at the Baabda Palace, while Macron avoided shaking hands with any official.

After the meeting he told a joint press conference with Aoun: 鈥淲e want to know the causes of the Beirut port explosion.鈥�

A meeting at the Pine Residence, headquarters of the French ambassador to Lebanon, brought together political and party figures including loyalists and the opposition.

At the same time Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt called for 鈥渁n international investigation committee鈥� to investigate the explosion.

鈥淲e don鈥檛 believe in the government in any way; we do not trust it,鈥� he said.

鈥淭here is a gross failure of the judiciary and the security services, and we have absolutely no confidence in this ruling gang.鈥�

Jumblatt said that 鈥渨ithout Arab and international support, we cannot continue as a country, and greater Lebanon will disappear.鈥�

He also questioned the likely cause of the explosion, saying: 鈥淭his huge amount of ammonium nitrate came to the port of Beirut and remained there for almost six years. It does not explode even if it is toxic or explosive by itself 鈥� it needs a detonator.鈥�

He described Prime Minister Diab as 鈥渁 wolf鈥� and 鈥渘othing.鈥�

As the site of the deadly blast was cordoned off by the Lebanese army, rescue teams continued to search for survivors or the dead.

According to Health Minister Hamad Hassan, 80 people are still missing.

On Wednesday night, 36 search and rescue experts, including firefighters accompanied by trained dogs, arrived from Czechia. Six bodies were recovered from inside the port and another three from the nearby ocean.