French envoy Anne Grillo addressing a message to the Lebanese on Dec. 30, 2021. (Credit: Embassy of France in Lebanon)
BEIRUT — France’s ambassador to Lebanon Anne Grillo vowed Thursday that Paris will work to ensure that “every Lebanese citizen can express their voice in a fair, free, and transparent democratic process,” in the parliamentary and municipal elections scheduled for 2022.
Here’s what we know:
• In a video published on the embassy's social media ahead of New Year’s Eve, Grillo said that “France will remain with the Lebanese in 2022,” adding that the upcoming year will be an important one for Lebanon due to the legislative, presidential and municipal elections scheduled to take place.
• “We will be particularly attentive so that each Lebanese citizen can express their voice,” the envoy vowed in her message.
• The ambassador welcomed the initiative taken by French President Emmanuel Macron, who had hosted a third international conference in support of Lebanon in August, a year after the 2020 Beirut port explosion. Donors pledged $370 million in aid to Lebanon during the gathering.