Lebanon establishes its first full government in over two years
Lebanon has established a new fully operational government for the first time since 2022. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has officially established his cabinet amidst ongoing economic turmoil and regional tensions.
Lebanon has managed to form its first comprehensive government since 2022, aiming to rebuild its devastated southern region and bolster security following clashes between Israel and Hezbollah.
On Saturday, President Joseph Aoun announced the acceptance of the previous caretaker government's resignation and issued a decree formally inviting Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to create a new cabinet.
In Lebanon, government positions are distributed according to sectarian affiliations: the president is a Maronite Christian, the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim, and the parliament speaker is a Shiite Muslim.
Salam successfully assembled a cabinet of 24 ministers, including five women, less than a month after assuming office.
This development marks a significant breakthrough after more than three weeks of political stalemate, particularly concerning the appointment of Shiite ministers, typically selected by Hezbollah and its ally, the Amal party.
Since 2008, Hezbollah and Amal have held one-third of cabinet seats, which has given them the power to veto decisions and dissolve the government. Media reports indicate that this time, Salam declined to meet their demands.
The announcement followed closely after U.S. Deputy Middle East Envoy Morgan Ortagus expressed that Hezbollah should be excluded from the new cabinet. During her visit to Lebanon, she also expressed gratitude to Israel for inflicting significant damage on the group.
Her visit stirred controversy when images of her wearing a Star of David ring circulated on social media.
Lebanon has been entrenched in an economic crisis since at least 2019, a situation aggravated by the catastrophic Beirut port explosion in 2020, which resulted in over 200 fatalities and substantial destruction in the city. Coupled with the impact of the Covid pandemic and widespread unrest over allegations of governmental corruption, the nation faces numerous challenges undermining its economy.
In October 2023, Hezbollah collaborated with Hamas in its conflict against Israel, engaging in a low-intensity campaign against the Israel Defense Forces along the ‘blue line’ that delineates Lebanon from Israel and the Golan Heights. The situation escalated in September when Israeli strikes targeted Hezbollah strongholds in southern Beirut, leading to the deaths of several high-ranking commanders.
Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire with Israel in late November, committing to withdraw from southern Lebanon between the ‘blue line’ and the Litani River, allowing only the Lebanese Army and UN peacekeepers to operate in the area.
Frederick R Cook contributed to this report for TROIB News
Lebanon has managed to form its first comprehensive government since 2022, aiming to rebuild its devastated southern region and bolster security following clashes between Israel and Hezbollah.
On Saturday, President Joseph Aoun announced the acceptance of the previous caretaker government's resignation and issued a decree formally inviting Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to create a new cabinet.
In Lebanon, government positions are distributed according to sectarian affiliations: the president is a Maronite Christian, the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim, and the parliament speaker is a Shiite Muslim.
Salam successfully assembled a cabinet of 24 ministers, including five women, less than a month after assuming office.
This development marks a significant breakthrough after more than three weeks of political stalemate, particularly concerning the appointment of Shiite ministers, typically selected by Hezbollah and its ally, the Amal party.
Since 2008, Hezbollah and Amal have held one-third of cabinet seats, which has given them the power to veto decisions and dissolve the government. Media reports indicate that this time, Salam declined to meet their demands.
The announcement followed closely after U.S. Deputy Middle East Envoy Morgan Ortagus expressed that Hezbollah should be excluded from the new cabinet. During her visit to Lebanon, she also expressed gratitude to Israel for inflicting significant damage on the group.
Her visit stirred controversy when images of her wearing a Star of David ring circulated on social media.
Lebanon has been entrenched in an economic crisis since at least 2019, a situation aggravated by the catastrophic Beirut port explosion in 2020, which resulted in over 200 fatalities and substantial destruction in the city. Coupled with the impact of the Covid pandemic and widespread unrest over allegations of governmental corruption, the nation faces numerous challenges undermining its economy.
In October 2023, Hezbollah collaborated with Hamas in its conflict against Israel, engaging in a low-intensity campaign against the Israel Defense Forces along the ‘blue line’ that delineates Lebanon from Israel and the Golan Heights. The situation escalated in September when Israeli strikes targeted Hezbollah strongholds in southern Beirut, leading to the deaths of several high-ranking commanders.
Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire with Israel in late November, committing to withdraw from southern Lebanon between the ‘blue line’ and the Litani River, allowing only the Lebanese Army and UN peacekeepers to operate in the area.
Frederick R Cook contributed to this report for TROIB News
