Lebanon government named after two-year caretaker cabinet

BEIRUT: Lebanon's presidency announced on Saturday that a new government had been formed, after more than two years in which an interim cabinet had led the crisis-hit country.

President Joseph Aoun signed a decree "to form a government of 24 ministers", the presidency said in a post on X.

It also announced two other decrees, in which the newly appointed president "accepted the resignation of (caretaker) prime minister Najib Mikati's government" and formally appointed "Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to form the government".

After more than two years of political stalemate, the weakening of armed group Hezbollah in war with Israel has allowed former army chief Aoun to be elected president and Salam approved as premier.

The new government faces the daunting task of implementing reforms needed to unlock billions of dollars from international donors after years of economic crisis, overseeing a fragile Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire and rebuilding a war-scarred country.

It will also have to review agreements including with the International Monetary Fund and prepare for parliamentary elections scheduled for next year.

‘Aims to lead government of reform and salvation'

 Lebanon's premier said his newly-formed cabinet will strive to be a "government of reform and salvation", pledging to rebuild trust with the international community after a devastating Israel-Hezbollah war.

"I hope this will be a government of reform and salvation," Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said in a televised statement moments after his cabinet was announced, adding it will strive to "restore trust between citizens and the state, between Lebanon and its Arab surrounding, and between Lebanon and the international community".

UN welcomes Lebanon’s government formation

The United Nations welcomed the formation of a new government in Lebanon on Saturday, which ended more than two years under a caretaker cabinet.

"Today's government formation heralds a new and brighter chapter for Lebanon," the office of the United Nations special coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, said in a statement.