Report: Grillo tells al-Rahi Paris no longer backing any candidate

French Ambassador to Lebanon Anne Grillo has tried to mend the relation with Bkirki by telling Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi that her country is “keen on the centuries-long, historic relation between Paris and the patriarchate,” a media report said.

Paris “highly appreciates the national role that is being played by Bkirki,” the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper quoted Grillo as telling al-Rahi.

The ambassador also told the patriarch that Paris no longer backs any presidential candidate and that it “will not take any step that harms the Christian and national interest,” effectively announcing the end of French support for Suleiman Franjieh’s nomination, the daily added.