Lebanese Presidency Announces New Gov't Formation after Year of Political Vacuum

After a year of political vacuum, Lebanese President Michel Aoun signed today, Friday, a decree to form the new government headed by Naguib Mikati.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri attended the signing of the decree, which took place after a series of sharp political pisions and in light of an unprecedented economic crisis.

During the past two years, Lebanon has been subjected to many political crises and economic turmoil.

The birth of the government came more than a year after the resignation of Hassan Diab’s government, days following the horrific explosion of the port of Beirut on August 4, 2020ز

The mega explosion killed more than two hundred people, injured more than 6,500, destroyed neighborhoods in the Lebanese capital, and exacerbated the economic collapse and suffering.

It is worth noting that 78%  of the Lebanese live below the poverty line.

Despite international pressures exerted by France in particular, internal and external political differences prevented the formation of the government and the distribution of portfolios during the past months, despite two previous attempts to form it since the explosion of the port.

The new government includes 24 ministers from all political currents and parties in Lebanon.

The cabinet line-up includes Muhammad Naguib Mikati as Prime Minister,  Ali Al Shami as Deputy Prime Minister, Bassam Muwlawi as Minister of Interior and Municipalities, and Youssef Khalil as Minister of Finance.

Also, the new cabinet comprises Abdullah Abu Habib as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Walid Fayyad as Minister of Energy and Water, Johnny Corm as Minister of Communications, and Abbas Halabi as Minister of Education and Higher Education.

The new ministers join the cabinet include Henry Khoury as Minister of Justice, Maurice Selim as Minister of National Defense, Ali Hamiyah as Minister of Public Works and Transport, Firas Al Abyad as Minister of Public Health, Hector Hajjar as Minister of Social Affairs, Nasser Yassin as Minister of   Environment, Mustafa Bayram as Minister of Labor, Amin Salam as Minister of Economy and Trade. Walid Nassar, Minister of Tourism, Abbas Hajj Hassan, Minister of Agriculture, Muhammad Mortada, Minister of Culture, George Dabakian, Minister of Industry, Najla Riachi, Minister of State for Administrative Development, George Kordahi, a well-known media man,  Minister of Information, Issam Sharaf El-Din, Minister of the Displaced, and George Kallas. Minister of Youth and Sports.