Lebanon Establishes New Government, Weakening Hezbollah’s Power

February 8, 2025 TruthUSA

President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam are optimistic that the new government in Lebanon can push for reform in the political system and put an end to the shadow state of Hezbollah.

Lebanon is in the process of forming its first complete government since 2022, with the aim of reducing Hezbollah’s power and removing Israeli forces from the southern region of the country.

On Feb. 8, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun announced the acceptance of the caretaker government’s resignation and signed a decree recognizing the new government led by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.

In a speech on Saturday, Salam stated, “This government will work towards rebuilding trust between citizens and the state, between Lebanon and its Arab neighbors, and between Lebanon and the international community.”

He added, “Reform is the only way to true salvation.”

The U.S. Embassy in Lebanon has welcomed the Cabinet announcement, expressing hope that the new government will strengthen Lebanon’s state institutions and implement necessary reforms.

Salam’s Cabinet consists of 24 ministers, evenly divided between Christian and Muslim sects. This development comes at a crucial time when Lebanon is striving to establish security and safety for its population after years of internal conflict and attacks from Israel.

To achieve this, Salam mentioned that the Cabinet’s focus will be on financial reforms, reconstruction, and implementing a United Nations resolution crucial for stability on the Lebanese-Israeli border.

Significantly, neither Aoun nor Salam received support from Hezbollah, a group backed by Iran that has maintained its own parallel state in Lebanon for many years. The new government has largely marginalized Hezbollah.

Aoun also committed to strengthening the state’s authority to control weapons, hinting at the end of Hezbollah’s de facto dominance over militias.

Instead of being directly involved in government formation, the Hezbollah-aligned Amal party selected four new Cabinet members to represent Lebanon’s Shiite community, including the finance minister.

This step aims to prevent Hezbollah and its allies from obtaining a third veto power in the government, where a two-thirds majority is required for certain decisions.

Similarly, the Christian Lebanese Forces Party, a staunch opponent of Hezbollah excluded from a Cabinet for over five years, also picked four ministers, including those for foreign affairs and energy.

Salam pledged to overhaul Lebanon’s judicial system and bring stability to the country, which has endured numerous economic, political, and security challenges over the years.

He also assured the implementation of a cease-fire agreement that concluded the recent conflict between Israel and Hezbollah last November, and to ensure the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory as part of the deal.

The Cabinet’s task now is to outline its priorities broadly and obtain a vote of confidence from Lebanon’s parliament to gain full authority. Hezbollah still wields influence in the multi-party parliament, holding 15 out of 128 seats, while Amal controls an equal number.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

Source link