On the following Monday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun appointed renowned international lawyer Nawaf Salam to head a process toward the establishment of a new government-the most important governmental event in the long-running political standstill and severe economic malaise that has afflicted Lebanon for decades.
The announcement took place after a two-year-long political standstill, where the country was run through a caretaker administration headed by Prime Minister Najib Mikati. A majority of lawmakers in Lebanon’s parliament endorsed Salam, currently serving as a presiding judge at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, signalling a potential shift in the nation’s governance.
“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,” the presidency said in an official statement.
President Aoun, who assumed office just last week after a two-year vacancy in the presidency, initiated consultations with parliament members to secure support for his nominee. According to Lebanese media, by Monday afternoon, 84 MPs had voiced their support for Salam and nine MPs for caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
Nawaf Salam appointment is considered a pivotal step in achieving the political stability in Lebanon, a country also dealing with the consequences of the severe economic collapse. Over the past three years, Lebanon has witnessed soaring inflation, a plummeting currency, widespread unemployment, and a collapse in public services. The World Bank has characterized the crisis as one of the greatest financial crises in modern times.
Salam, highly experienced diplomat and attorney at law, joins the role with extensive international experience. He previously held the position of Ambassador of Lebanon to the UN and has gained the reputation of a reformist. His appointment has led hopes among many Lebanese people and observers that he will be able to help navigate the Lebanese political maze and deal with the pressing economic crisis besetting the country.
However, Salam’s task will not be an easy one. As the main condition for forming a government in Lebanon is to ‘travel’ along the country’s deeply rooted sectarian power-sharing network, i.e., the president must be a Maronite Christian, the prime minister must be a Sunni Muslim and the parliament speaker must be a Shiite Muslim. Political divisions, compounded by external influences, have frequently delayed government formation in the past.
This presidential election, along with Salam’s nomination, ensues in a dynamic of political change in Lebanon. The Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, which has long been a dominant force in Lebanese politics, has seen its influence weakened following its involvement in a recent war with Israel. This evolution might have opened the doors to more general parliamentary endorsement of the major appointments, such as the presidency of Aoun and the nomination of Salam to the post of prime minister-designate.
Although Salam enjoys considerable support from the parliament, the road ahead is full of difficulties. His ability to form a functioning government will depend on his capacity to bridge divides among Lebanon’s fractured political factions and implement much-needed reforms.
For many Lebanese, the stakes could not be higher. The country’s economic crisis has left nearly 80% of the population living below the poverty line, with basic necessities such as electricity, medicine, and clean water in short supply. International donors have made clear that financial assistance will only be forthcoming if Lebanon implements substantial reforms to tackle corruption and improve governance.
When As Salam prepares to move to Beirut so that he can start up the task of forming the government, he is faced with a very arduous challenge that is to lead Lebanon to a return to normality. In a country ravaged by decades of crisis, his leadership is a ray of hope, but there are still major hurdles ahead.
Lebanon now waits to see whether this latest political breakthrough will mark the beginning of a new chapter, or simply another chapter in its prolonged struggle for stability.
