Hopes for the swift formation of Lebanon’s new government have faded, despite earlier optimism following reports that Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam had resolved the issue of the Lebanese Forces’ representation and requested a meeting with President Joseph Aoun.
However, Salam emerged from his meeting with Aoun on Wednesday without making any statement, only saying that he was working on forming a “reformist government” and assuring that it will “not include any elements capable of obstructing its work in any way.”
The statement came after extensive negotiations, which resulted in a draft cabinet proposal that Salam presented to Aoun during his visit to the presidential palace.
Aoun affirmed that Salam was making progress in overcoming obstacles to government formation and expressed confidence that the new cabinet would be announced soon.
Following his meeting with the president, Salam addressed the Lebanese people, saying: “I hear you loud and clear. Your aspirations guide me, and I assure you that I am working on forming a government that is highly cohesive and committed to ministerial solidarity.”
He added that the criteria he is following are aimed at ensuring the government’s independence, the integrity and neutrality of upcoming elections, and a functional political process. While acknowledging the essential role of political parties, he stated that, given Lebanon’s current circumstances, “I have chosen to prioritize governance over political disputes.”
The premier-designate has engaged in extensive negotiations, primarily with the Lebanese Forces (LF) and the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), to resolve disputes over cabinet representation. Discussions led to an agreement granting the LF four ministerial portfolios: one so-called sovereign ministry—Foreign Affairs—alongside key ministries such as Telecommunications, Energy and Water, and Industry, according to MTV Lebanon.
The Kataeb Party expressed its support for the LF demand to secure the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Sources indicated that Kataeb communicated this stance to Salam as part of broader political coordination on the upcoming government formation.
The agreement effectively means that the FPM will not hold any ministerial portfolio in the new cabinet.
Lebanon’s sovereign ministries—Foreign Affairs, Defense, Interior, and Finance—are traditionally divided among the country’s four major sects: Maronites, Orthodox Christians, Sunnis, and Shiites, ensuring an equal split between Muslims and Christians.
Additionally, six key service and economic ministries—Justice, Health, Education, Telecommunications, Energy, and Public Works—are also distributed equally between the two religious groups, maintaining a 12-12 balance.
The nomination of former Minister and MP Yassin Jaber also sparked extensive discussions, as he had been proposed by the Amal-Hezbollah alliance for a ministerial position. Jaber clarified that while he was previously part of Speaker Nabih Berri’s Development and Liberation Bloc, he has “never been affiliated with any party or political movement and has always remained independent.”
