Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Saturday announced the formation of a new government – the first since 2022 and a crucial step for the war-battered country ahead of the expiration of a ceasefire agreement with Israel on February 18.
Tarek Mitri, a former UN envoy to Libya, becomes the Deputy Prime Minister, while five of the 24 ministers are women.
Significantly, Mr Salam asserted that no party would have a power to obstruct the government's work. Over the past two decades, Hezbollah and its allies have held enough seats to topple governments and exert significant influence over decision-making. However, it is unlikely that they retain that leverage in the current government, formed under international and regional pressure.
The Prime Minister suggested that they do not, emphasising the government's cohesion. "This formation will function as a unified team, with all its members committed to the principle of ministerial solidarity," he said on Saturday.
"I want to reaffirm that the diversity within this government will not hinder its work in any way. This administration will not be a platform for narrow disputes and conflicts, but rather a space for constructive collaboration."
Mr Salam said previously that the new cabinet, which still needs to be approved by parliament, will not consist of members of political parties, often accused of corruption, insisting instead that it would be a reform government.
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Lebanon elected Joseph Aoun as president last month after a two-year power vacuum. The election of a president and forming a new government were part of an agreement that led to a ceasefire that stopped the devastating year-long war between Hezbollah and Israel.
The US, France and Arab countries have pushed for the formation of a strong government that can enact the much-needed reforms, before pledging any financial support for the postwar reconstruction in Lebanon.
The European Union's foreign affairs chief, Kaja Kallas, said on Saturday: “I extend my warmest congratulations to Lebanon on the formation of the new government, and I wish Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and the government as a whole complete success in achieving the aspirations of the Lebanese people.''
Yassine Jaber, backed by the Shiite duo of the Amal Movement and Hezbollah, will become Finance Minister in what had been the most contentious decision.
This had been met with fierce opposition by parliament's largest party, the staunchly anti-Hezbollah Lebanese Forces – which leads a block of around a third of the 128 MPs.
But they acquiesced after the LF were able to nominate the Foreign Minister – Youssef Rajji, a Lebanese diplomat in Jordan. They will also get three other ministries, including the critically important energy and telecommunications departments.
In recent times the vital Finance Ministry had been nominated by the Amal Movement, headed by long-time parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri.
Opponents of the Shiite duo were critical of repeating this, as Lebanon aspires to usher in a new era under a president and prime minister seen as independent from the entrenched ruling elite widely blamed for the country’s many crises.
Groups such as the LF are also deeply opposed to Hezbollah – the heavily armed Lebanese group and political party – having any say in such a vital ministry. More than a year of war between Hezbollah and Israel has seen vast swathes of Lebanon reduced to rubble and more than 4,000 people killed in Lebanon.
“There were lots of guarantees given about the implementation of the ceasefire and a forensic audit of the ministry of finance,” said a senior LF source, referring to the truce agreed between Israel and Hezbollah.
“It will be Yassine Jaber with some commitments that there will not be obstruction of other ministry's like previously … or moving forward with reforms,” said the LF source, referring to the finance minister.
Morgan Ortagus, the US Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East, arrived in Beirut on Friday.
“We have set clear red lines in the United States that they [Hezbollah] won’t be able to terrorise the Lebanese people, and that includes by being a part of the government,” Ms Ortagus said after her meeting with Mr Aoun.
The new cabinet
Deputy Prime Minister: Tarek Mitri
Minister of Defence: Michel Menassa
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants: Youssef Rajji
Minister of Telecommunications: Charles Hajj
Minister of Energy and Water: Joseph Saddi
Minister of Interior: Ahmad Hajjar
Minister of Justice: Adel Nassar
Minister of Finance: Yassin Jaber
Minister of Public Health: Rakan Nassereddine
Minister of Culture: Ghassan Salameh
Minister of Industry: Joe Issa Khoury
Minister of Economy and Trade: Amer Bsat
Minister of Agriculture: Nizar Hani
Minister of Information: Paul Morcos
Minister of Social Affairs: Hanin Sayyed
Minister of Public Works and Transport: Fayez Rasamni
Minister of Displaced: Kamal Shehadeh
Minister of Labour: Mohammad Haidar
Minister of Youth and Sports: Nora Berkadarian
Minister of Tourism: Laura Khazen Lahoud
Minister of Administrative Development: Fadi Makki
Minister of Education and Higher Education: Rima Karami
Minister of Environment: Tamara Zein
