Macron berates reporter for unveiling Hezbollah talks

PARIS

French President Emmanuel Macron lashed out at a journalist following a news conference in Beirut, Lebanon Tuesday evening for his exposing an unannounced meeting by the leader with Hezbollah in a recent article.

French journalist Georges Malbrunot wrote a piece published in Le Figaro on Monday which reported Macron having threatened to impose sanctions against leaders of the militant faction who may be resistant to the necessary reforms that France seeks.

The president's rebuke came during his official two-day visit to Beirut to discuss reforms and the necessary reinvention of the country in the wake of the Aug. 4 deadly chemical explosions in the capital city.

Video of the footage broadcast by franceinfo TV reveals the president dressing down Malbrunot, with the two abruptly walking away after the exchange.

"What you are doing here is irresponsible in regard to the sensitive nature of the issue. It is highly irresponsible towards France and the parties involved, considering what you know about the history of this country.

"You know that I always defend journalists, I always will," he continued, "but I speak to you frankly. What you are doing is serious, unprofessional and petty," the leader cried.

For his part, Malbrunot was confounded.

"I am very surprised at the virulence of this attack, which is unacceptable and to which I responded."

Malbrunot is no stranger to the region and is considered an expert in Middle East relations. While reporting for Le Figaro in August 2004, he and a fellow journalist were taken hostage by a group called the Islamic Army of Iraq during the US-led war there. The two were released four months later.

The Elysee Palace defended Macron's reprimand, expressing their need to simply be informed.

"What the president reproached him for is not having given the Elysee the possibility of reacting to information which implicated him."

Macron was the first foreign leader to visit Lebanon, just two days after the port blast that left 190 dead, 6,500 injured, and 300,000 people displaced. His recent visit came with the objectives of rebuilding the economy and the country's crumbling infrastructure, and most importantly, aiding in the formation of a new government.

Lebanon is on the verge of bankruptcy, and has seen months of protests over a corrupt regime, members of which resigned after the explosion.

After reading Malbrunot's article, Macron criticized those who "write the worst nonsense on the subject without any verification." He requested rather that reporters question him directly.

The president did go on to say however that he did not negate "a broader sanctions mechanism" down the road.