New Lebanese PM Nawaf Salam: A distinguished diplomat and jurist

Dubai: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Monday picked Nawaf Salam, the presiding judge at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, as prime minister following consultations with lawmakers, the presidency said.

“The president of the republic called on Judge Nawaf Salam to task him with forming a government, knowing that he is currently abroad. It has been decided he will return tomorrow,” it said.

Salam won enough support to become Lebanon’s next prime minister after a majority of lawmakers backed him for the post on Monday, a big blow to Hezbollah which accused opponents of working to exclude it.

The announcement on Monday reflects the weakened position of Lebanon’s Hezbollah group, which wanted caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati to keep the job, following its devastating war with Israel and the toppling of the group’s ally Bashar Al Assad in Syria last month.

Born on December 15, 1953, in Beirut, Nawaf Salam hails from a prominent Sunni family with a rich political heritage. His grandfather, Salim Salam, led the “Beirut Reform Movement” and was elected as a deputy to the Ottoman parliament in 1912. His uncle, Saeb Salam, was a pivotal figure in Lebanon’s independence movement and served multiple terms as Prime Minister between 1952 and 1973. Continuing the family legacy, his cousin, Tammam Salam, held the position of Prime Minister from 2014 to 2016.

Salam’s academic journey is marked by prestigious institutions and diverse disciplines:

Diploma from the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (1974).

Doctorate in History from Sorbonne University (1979).

LL.M. from Harvard Law School (1991).

Doctorate in Political Science from Sciences Po, Paris (1992).

Salam’s career seamlessly integrates academia, diplomacy, and international law:

Academic Roles: He has taught contemporary history at Sorbonne University and international relations and law at the American University of Beirut, where he chaired the Political Studies and Public Administration Department.

Legal Practice: Beginning in 1984, Salam practiced law, contributing significantly to legal scholarship and practice in Lebanon.

Diplomatic Service: Serving as Lebanon’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 2007 to 2017, he held positions including President of the Security Council and Vice President of the General Assembly.

Judicial Appointment: In 2018, Salam was elected as a judge to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for a nine-year term. In February 2024, he made history as the first Lebanese and second Arab to be elected President of the ICJ.

Salam is married to Sahar Baassiri, a distinguished Lebanese journalist and columnist who was appointed as Lebanon’s Ambassador to UNESCO in January 2018. The couple has two sons, Abdallah and Marwan.

In recognition of his contributions, Salam was awarded the French Legion of Honour (Légion d’honneur) at the rank of Officer by President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2012.

On January 13, 2025, Nawaf Salam was nominated by a majority of Lebanese Members of Parliament to serve as Prime Minister-designate of Lebanon, reflecting his enduring commitment to public service and national leadership.

Nawaf Salam’s multifaceted career and dedication to both national and international service underscore his significant role in shaping legal and diplomatic discourse, both within Lebanon and on the global stage.