Graffiti in Beirut. (Credit: Joao Sousa)
Today (Monday, July 10), it’s been 413 days that Lebanon has been without a fully empowered government. The cabinet went into caretaker mode following legislative elections in May 2022.
This breaks the previous record of 330 days, held between March 22, 2013, when Prime Minister Nagib Mikati resigned, and Feb. 15, 2014, when Tammam Salam formed a cabinet.
If Lebanon does not form a cabinet by March 5, 2024, it could break the world record for the longest time without a government in peacetime, held by Belgium.
The country stayed 652 days without a fully empowered government between 2018 and 2020.
Belgium also held the previous world record in 2011, of 589 days.
Between March 2005 and June 2022 in Lebanon, an average of 111 days elapsed between each appointment of a prime minister and the vote of confidence.
The current cabinet’s 413 days in caretaker status greatly exceeded the 244 days during which it was fully empowered.
Meanwhile, the government has approved tax reforms, significant increases to public employee salaries, electricity sector reforms and is responsible for approving this year’s budget. Yet, seven of the cabinet’s 24 ministers announced they are boycotting meetings due to the presidential vacuum also in effect.
