Lebanon’s new President Joseph Aoun has appointed Nawaf Salam, Head of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), as the country’s new Prime Minister after he won the support of over half of parliament, according to Al Jazeera.
By Monday afternoon, Salam had secured 78 out of 128 votes in parliament, while Prime Minister Najib Mikati received 9. According to Lebanon’s power-sharing system, the president must be a Maronite Christian, the prime minister a Sunni Muslim, and the parliament speaker a Shia Muslim.
Supporters of Salam, like MP Georges Adwan from the Lebanese Forces, believe he can implement needed reforms. In contrast, critics view Mikati as being too influenced by Hezbollah.
Hezbollah, which suffered heavy losses while at war with Israel, is now under pressure to pull back its forces from southern Lebanon, under the ceasefire agreement. The group has also lost its key ally in Syria after al-Assad’s regime was overthrown on December 8, 2024.
Hezbollah MP Mohammed Raad accused its opponents of trying to weaken and exclude the group from power. He said that despite Hezbollah’s role in helping Aoun become president, it now feels sidelined.