After two years, crisis-ridden Lebanon has a new head of government. The judge and former ambassador Nawaf Salam is considered pro-Western. Salam is expected to return from abroad on Tuesday, President Joseph Aoun said.
Parliament had chosen the 71-year-old over the acting head of government, Najib Mikati. 84 out of 128 MPs voted for Salam as the new prime minister. Mikati received only nine votes. The other MPs did not support either candidate, including Hezbollah.
Salam’s supporters see the current president of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague and former ambassador to the UN as someone who is impartial and can bring about much-needed reforms in the country. According to them, he stands for peace and the fight against corruption. From her point of view, Mikati stood for the old political system in the country controlled by the Hezbollah militia.
Commitment to the rule of law?
Hezbollah is likely “concerned that Salam is a lawyer deeply committed to the rule of law and respect for institutions,” says political scientist Karim Bitar. Salam is probably perceived as too Western by the militia. Hezbollah said it supported Mikati and his movement.
Just last week, army chief Aoun was elected as the new president by parliament. The country had no head of state for two years due to disputes between the political camps. The power-sharing system allows people of different religious beliefs to hold leading political positions.
The new Prime Minister now faces major challenges. The country has been in a deep political and economic crisis for years. Lebanon has had a transitional government for more than two years. The ceasefire between the Israeli government and Hezbollah increased international pressure to appoint a head of state.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
