Lebanon announces unity government after months of deadlock

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Lebanon’s Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam has announced the formation of a compromise government after months of political deadlock.
 
Tammam Salam and other senior political officials gathered on Saturday at the presidential palace outside the capital, Beirut, for the announcement.

"After 10 months of efforts, of patience, a government protecting the national interest is born," Salam added.

The unity government includes both members of the resistance movement Hezbollah and the camp of former prime minister, Sa’ad Hariri.

"It is a unifying government and the best formula to allow Lebanon to confront challenges," Salam noted.

Lebanon has been without a government since Salam's nomination last April due to divisions between Hezbollah and Hariri's Future Movement party over Syria.

Hariri’s party supports opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, while Hezbollah backs the Syrian president’s supporters.

Several attempts to form a government have stumbled over the past months.

But on January 21, Hariri said his bloc was prepared to join a government of national unity with Hezbollah and its allies.

The former prime minister said Lebanon needs stability and he is optimistic about its future despite disagreements over Syria, which has been gripped by deadly violence since 2011.

Lebanon’s Daily Star reported that Salam named Samir Moqbel as deputy prime minister and defense minister. Nuhad Mashnouq, Gebran Bassil, and Ali Hasan Khalil were also appointed as interior, foreign and finance ministers, respectively.

Secretary General of the Council of Ministers, Suheil Bouji, announced the names of the new ministers and their appointed portfolios:

Tammam Salam was appointed as Prime Minister.

Samir Mokbel Vice PM and Minister of Defencse.

Boutros Harb appointed as Minister of Telecommunications.

Mohammad Fneish as State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs.

Wael Abou Faour was appointed as Minister of Public Health.

Ali Hassan Khalil as State Minister for Financial Affairs.

Gebran Bassil as Foreign and Expatriates Minister.

Ghazi Zaiter appointed as Minister of Public Works and Transportation.

Arthur Nazarian as Minister of Energy and Water.

Michel Pharaon appointed as Minister of Tourism.

Hussein Haj Hassan as Minister of Industry.

Akram Shouhayib appointed as Minister of Agriculture.

Ashraf Rifi as Minister of Justice.

Elias Abou Saab appointed as Minister of Education and Higher Learning.

Nouhad Machnouk as Minister of Interior and Municipalities.

Sejaan Azzi as Minister of Labour.

Ronnie Arayji appointed as Minister of Culture.

Alice Shabatiny as Minister of the Displaced.

Rashid Derbass as Minister of Social Affairs.

Ramzi Jreij appointed as Minister of Information.

Abed Al Moutaleb Hennaoui as Minister of Youth and Sports.

Nabil De Freige appointed as State Minister for Administrative Development.

Alain Hakim as Minister of Economy and Trade.

Mohammad Machnouk as Minister of the Environment.

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