Bassil's party has faced growing political pressure to distance itself from Hezbollah since the country's 2019 financial meltdown.
Many hold the view that elections are the last play at power, which may be the catalyst for a new independent government.
New PM-designate Najib Mikati meets with top political parties, including Hezbollah movement and Free Patriotic Movement founded by President Michel Aoun, in attempt to form a government.
In the wake of the failure to form a government led by Saad al Hariri, attention has now turned to the question of who will replace him amid increasingly desperate social and economic circumstances.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in a visit to Lebanon threatened unspecified measures against officials obstructing the formation of a government in the crisis-hit country.
The Treasury designation did not mention Gebran Bassil's alliance or links to Hezbollah, but the sanctions targeting him appeared to be part of the Trump administration’s maximum pressure campaign against Iran and its allies in the region.
Macron can’t be expected to achieve anything on his own in Lebanon. But Brussels should play a much more hands-on role.
As the country slides closer to economic collapse and people are unable to access their money, questions are being asked about how the currency was kept stable for so many years during economic stagnation.
Hundreds of people had been marching in the capital as part of a historic wave of protests that has swept Lebanon since October 17, furious at a ruling elite that steered the country towards its worst economic crisis in decades.
The French President once saved Lebanon’s prime minister from the humiliation of his so-called Saudi captors. But can he now keep Lebanon from falling on its sword? A conference in Paris is a start.
While regional powers are playing the long game in Lebanon which is balanced on a knife-edge, Hezbollah digs its heels in when it should be accepting more responsibility for the country's crisis.
Security forces still struggling to open some roads as protesters continue their civil disobedience campaign in support of nationwide anti-government demonstrations.
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