Lebanon gets a government after 2 years of political stalemate

After two years of political stalemate in Lebanon, a new government has been formed under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.

The newly elected Lebanese President Joseph Aoun issued a Presidential decree on 8 February 2025 forming the new government under Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.

The President also accepted the resignation of the caretaker government headed by Prime Minister Najib Mikat, ending the two years of caretaker government in the country.

About Nawaf Salam and challenges of Hezbollah 

Former President of the International Court of Justice Nawaf Salam was appointed as the Prime Minister of Lebanon by President Joseph Aoun in January 2025. It took him nearly a month to form a government in a country that has been divided amongst the sectarian lines. 

According to the 1989 Taif agreement which ended the decade-long civil war in the country, a Maronite Christian will be the President of the country and a Sunni Muslim will be the Prime Minister of the country.

The Nawaf Salam government consists of 24 ministers, split evenly between Christian and Muslim sects.

The weakening of Hezbollah in Lebanon also helped the Americans support Joseph Aoun to be elected as the President of Lebanon and the formation of a government in the country after 2 years.

Weakening of Hezbollah 

Hezbollah, which in Arabic, means "Party of Allah", is a Shia Muslim militant and political group based in Lebanon.  The group was formed in 1982 during Lebanon's 15-year civil war. 

Iran is the major funder and supporter of Hezbollah and it was created to resist Israel's occupation of Southern Lebanon.

It played a major political role in Lebanon's politics which was divided into sectarian lines.

However, due to its recent war with Israel and the elimination of its top political and military leadership by Israel, has weakened the group.

The fall of the Basher-al-Assad regime in Syria in December 2024 has also considerably weakened Hezbollah as it was the supply route of Iranian weapons to Hezbollah.

The decline in Hezbollah's military and political standing in Lebanon has enabled the American-backed Joseph Aoun to be elected as the President of Lebanon and formation of a government in the country after 2 years.

The Nawaf Salam government faces an uphill task of rebuilding the economy which has been plagued by years of mismanagement and corruption and overseeing the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

Lebanon 

Capital: Beirut

Currency: Lebanese Pound

President: Joseph Aoun

Also Read: General Joseph Aoun elected as the President of Lebanon