New Lebanese government formed. Maronites gain influence

BEIRUT – After weeks of difficult negotiations, the new Lebanese government was finally presented yesterday by incoming Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, the former president of the International Court of Justice. PM Salam succeeds the outgoing Najib Mikati and will lead a 24-member cabinet.

Despite heavy external pressure from the U.S., the Shiite tandem Amal-Hezbollah will still control the Finance Ministry. The incoming Finance Minister Yassin Jaber, who holds US citizenship, is chosen by Amal leader Nabih Berri. However, with only 4 Shiite ministers close to it, the Amal-Hezbollah tandem does not have enough voting power to sabotage important decisions within the cabinet as the fifth Shiite minister resides not under the duo’s influence but is considered within the PM’s share of minister choices.

Within Lebanon’s political system, the 128-seat Lebanese parliament is dominated by traditional parties based on religious representation. The cabinet, always led by a Sunni, is a reflection of this sectarian political system.

The Christian share

The new cabinet will have 4 ministers from the predominantly Syriac Maronite Lebanese Forces (LF); Foreign Affairs (Youssef Raji), Energy (Joseph Saddi), Industry (Joe Issa al-Khoury) and the Ministry for the Displaced (Kamal Shehadi). The former head of the Maronite Foundation in the World Charles Hajj and allied with the Lebanese Forces, will head the Ministry of Telecommunications.

The Kataeb party led by Sami Gemayel will provide one minister, Adel Nassar (Justice).

The Free Patriotic Movement and its leader Gibran Bassil, who were represented in the Mikati Cabinet together with Hezbollah, have now been demoted to the opposition.

The Armenians are represented by  Noura Baïrakdarian as Minister of Youth and Sports.

Satisfaction with increased Christian share

Commenting on the formation of the new Salam Cabinet, the chairman of the Syriac Union Party in Lebanon Ibrahim Mrad expressed his frustration over the allocation of the Finance Ministry to the Amal-Hezbollah tandem. According to him, Hezbollah has thus retained influence in the country that it almost destroyed with its militaristic pro-Iran policies. Lebanon deserves better, he said.

Mrad stressed the importance of the independent Christian parties gaining more influence, with the Lebanese Forces getting 5 ministries and Kataeb 1. Also important is that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has gone to the LF. According to Mrad, this takes foreign policy further out of the reach of Hezbollah and its allies.

All in all, SUP chairman Mrad does not expect much from the incoming cabinet. He sees it as a transitional government and a run-up to the parliamentary elections in 2026.