Lebanon Forms New Government After Two Years of Political Instability
After more than two years of political deadlock and amid a severe economic crisis, Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun announced the formation of a new government, Al Jazeera reports.
The presidency confirmed the acceptance of the caretaker government’s resignation and the appointment of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s 24-minister cabinet. This marks the country’s first full-fledged government since 2022.
Prime Minister Salam, a diplomat and former President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), has pledged to reform the judiciary, implement critical economic reforms, and foster stability within the nation. Following its formation, the cabinet will now draft a policy statement outlining its priorities and approach, which will subsequently require a vote of confidence from the Lebanese parliament.
In his address to reporters at the presidential palace, Salam affirmed Lebanon’s commitment to implementing UN resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel and calls for the withdrawal of Hezbollah and other non-state armed actors from the area south of the Litani River.
The new government represents a shift away from leaders closely associated with Hezbollah, as Lebanon seeks to unlock reconstruction funds and investments following last year’s war with Israel and to address the ongoing economic crisis that has plagued the country since 2019.
While Hezbollah did not endorse Salam for prime minister, the group participated in negotiations regarding the Shia Muslim representation in the government, consistent with Lebanon’s sectarian power-sharing system. President Aoun, also not endorsed by Hezbollah, was elected in early January, filling the long-vacant presidential post.
The announcement follows a statement from US Deputy Middle East Envoy Morgan Ortagus on Friday, who asserted that Hezbollah’s inclusion in the Lebanese government was a “red line” for Washington.
The US Embassy in Lebanon released a statement welcoming the new government, expressing hope that it would implement reforms and rebuild state institutions.
