Lebanese hopeful after designation of Nawaf Salam as PM

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14 January, 2025


Lebanese expressed satisfaction and hope after the designation of the head of the International Court of Justice, Nawaf Salam, as the country's prime minister.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun summoned Nawaf Salam, head of the International Court of Justice, to designate him prime minister after securing the approval of 84 out of parliament's 128 lawmakers.

The choice of Salam underlined the major shift in the power balance among Lebanon's sectarian factions since Hezbollah war with Israel last year, and the topple of its Syrian ally Bashar al-Assad regime.

Salam won backing from Christian and Druze factions, and prominent Sunni Muslim MPs, including Hezbollah allies and opponents of the group who have long demanded it give up its powerful arsenal, arguing it has undermined the state. Nawaf Salam, in his first speech, said he would "extend the authority of the Lebanese state across all its territory" and "work seriously to completely implement UN resolution 1701".