New cabinet formed in Lebanon after a delay of nine months

Lebanon’s Council of Ministers Secretary General Fouad Fleifel has announced names of new 31-member cabinet, including 29 ministers and state ministers led by Prime Minister Saad Hariri and a deputy prime minister.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s new government was announced following around nine months of strenuous negotiations that involved several obstacles. Hariri presented list to President Michel Aoun after Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea accepted to cede the culture portfolio to Speaker Nabih Berri and a long-running obstacle over the representation of the Hizbullah-backed Consultative Gathering was resolved.
The new government comprises of: Prime Minister: Saad Hariri (al-Mustaqbal Movement); Deputy PM: Ghassan Hasbani (Lebanese Forces); Foreign Affairs: Jebran Bassil (Free Patriotic Movement / President Aoun); Defense: Elias Bou Saab (FPM / Aoun); Justice: Albert Serhan (FPM / Aoun); Economy: Mansour Bteish (FPM / Aoun) – Energy: Nada al-Bustani (FPM / Aoun) – Environment: Fadi Jreissati (FPM / Aoun) – Presidency Affairs: Salim Jreissati (FPM / Aoun) – Displaced: Ghassan Atallah (FPM / Aoun) – State Minister for Foreign Trade Affairs: Hassan Mrad (Consultative Gathering / Aoun)
– Tourism: Avedis Guidanian (Tashnag Party)
– State Minister for Refugee Affairs: Saleh al-Gharib (Lebanese Democratic Party)
– Health Minister: Jamil Jabaq (Hizbullah) – Sport and Youth: Mohammed Fneish (Hizbullah) – State Minister for Parliament Affairs: Mahmoud Qmati (Hizbullah)
– Education: Akram Shehayyeb (Progressive Socialist Party)
– Industry: Wael Abu Faour (PSP)
– State Minister for Information Technology Affairs: Adel al-Afiouni (Miqati’s bloc)
– Interior: Raya al-Hassan (Mustaqbal)
– Public Works: Youssef Fenianos (Marada Movement)
– Labor: Camille Abu Suleiman (Lebanese Forces)
– State Minister for Administrative Development: May Chidiac (LF)
– Finance: Ali Hassan Khalil (AMAL Movement)
– Culture: Mohammed Daoud (AMAL)
– Telecommunications: Mohammed Shuqeir (Mustaqbal)
– Social Affairs: Richard Kouyoumjian (LF)
– Agriculture: Hassan al-Laqqis (AMAL)
– Information: Jamal al-Jarrah (Mustaqbal)
– State Minister for Social and Economic Rehabilitation of Youth and Women: Violet Khairallah Safadi (Mustaqbal)
– State Minister for Administrative Development Affairs: May Chidiac (LF)
Addressing the Lebanese after the line-up’s announcement, Hariri apologized to citizens over the delay and noted that the country is facing “economic, financial and service-related challenges in addition to the Israeli threats.”