
Judge Nawaf Salam who was appointed to form the government and become Lebanon's Prime Minister speaking at Baabda Palace on Jan. 14, 2025. (Credit: Mohammad Yassin/L'Orient Today)
Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam accepted his nomination on Tuesday at the Baabda Palace after a meeting with President Joseph Aoun and Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri. He said he is committed to "immediately getting to work" on launching the "construction of the new Lebanon."
Salam met with Aoun at noon, first speaking with him and Berri before having a private discussion with Aoun.
Upon leaving the meeting, Salam confirmed his acceptance of the nomination and thanked the members of Parliament for their "trust," after receiving the support of 84 MPs during the binding consultations held the day before. Only nine parliamentarians supported the candidacy of caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and 35 did not take a position, mostly those from Hezbollah and the Amal Movement.
Salam said that this position as prime minister is "not just a nomination but a call to work to meet the expectations" of the Lebanese and "rebuild the nation." He said that the inauguration speech by Aoun, following his election last Thursday, had "brought hope."
He further emphasized that he would "immediately get to work, in full cooperation with President Aoun, to start the rebuilding project for the new Lebanon," stressing that he was "reaching out to all parties."
Believing that one of his greatest challenges will be "facing Israeli aggression," he stated that one of the priorities of his future team will be to focus on "rebuilding the villages and homes destroyed in southern Lebanon, the Bekaa and Beirut, to allow residents to return to their homes."
"This is a commitment that requires serious work," he said. He also committed to ensuring that "all provisions of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701" are respected, which notably calls for the disarmament of Hezbollah north of the Litani River, as well as "all aspects of the ceasefire agreement." He further committed to ensuring that "state authority is established across all Lebanese territory."
Salam promises 'justice and reforms'
In his speech, Salam also outlined a "program to build a productive economy," "employment opportunities" for the Lebanese, an "effective and transparent administration," the respect of human rights, the long-awaited reforms, the full implementation of the Taif Agreement and administrative decentralization.
Echoing Aoun’s speech to Parliament, the former judge at the International Court of Justice also promised "judicial independence," the fight against corruption and clientelism, as well as justice for the victims of the Aug. 4 Beirut port explosion and the Lebanese depositors whose funds are trapped in the banks.
Addressing the youth, he urged them to "study here, work here and help" the authorities "respond to your ambitions and dreams."
"We have lost many opportunities to build a sovereign and independent state, but the days of lost opportunities are over," he stated.
He added, however, that Lebanon was in a new phase now and that, while "each of us has relied on external factors in some way," the only way to move forward was based on "our unity, cooperation and building strong institutions."
"We have missed many opportunities to build a sovereign, civil, and independent state. Let us say enough to missed opportunities! Enough of the experiences that made some feel wronged, deprived, fearful, or excluded, both before and after Taif," Salam said.
The incoming prime minister promised to be a leader for all Lebanese and that even though he will not compromise on what he says are the Lebanese people's aspirations, he recognized that sometimes things need to happen gradually and "steady steps are sometimes the most successful path to achieving them."
"I will begin work immediately, in full cooperation with His Excellency the President, with great hope that together we will launch the building of a new Lebanon," he concluded.