In 2019-2020 Philippe Ziade was criticized for his close ties with then-Minister of foreign affairs and Emigrants Gebran Bassil who is regarded by some Lebanese opposition movements as a corrupt political figure.[15] He responded to the criticism by stating that his relationship with Bassil is that of an active foreign minister with a successful expatriate; he further went on to say that Bassil was not the one who nominated him for the office of Minister of Energy.[19][17]