Nawaf Salam, president of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague, has been appointed Lebanon’s new prime minister, marking a significant political shift in the country. Salam was nominated by two-thirds of Lebanon’s 128-member parliament during consultations with newly elected President Joseph Aoun, defeating caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who secured only nine votes.
The appointment, announced on Monday, is a setback for Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shia militia and political party, which failed to reappoint Mikati and ultimately refrained from nominating any candidate. Hezbollah, weakened by its recent conflict with Israel, criticised the move as undermining coexistence, with senior lawmaker Mohammed Raad accusing rivals of pursuing fragmentation.
However, Salam received support from Christian and Sunni allies of Hezbollah. Gebran Bassil, leader of the largest Maronite Christian bloc, described him as the “face of reform,” while Sunni lawmaker Faisal Karami endorsed him, citing the demand for “change and renewal” and promises of international support.
A prominent member of Beirut’s Sunni elite, Salam brings a wealth of experience to the role. He has served as Lebanon’s permanent representative to the UN and as an ICJ judge since 2018. His family’s political legacy includes his uncle, a former prime minister who helped Lebanon gain independence, and his cousin, a former premier.
Salam’s immediate challenge is to form a cabinet capable of securing a parliamentary confidence vote in a country grappling with deep divisions, an unprecedented economic crisis, and the fallout of the 2020 Beirut port explosion. President Aoun, who also enjoys international support, has pledged reforms and the exclusive right of the Lebanese state to bear arms, a clear reference to curbing Hezbollah’s military influence.
Lebanon’s path forward remains fraught, but Salam’s appointment signals a potential pivot towards reform and renewal amidst the nation’s myriad challenges.
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