Designated Prime Minister Nawaf Salam speaking to the press at the presidential palace of Baabda on January 17, 2025. Photo AFP
BEIRUT — Cabinet formation talks led by Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam faced a setback Thursday as Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, representing the Amal-Hezbollah alliance, demanded input on the selection of the fifth Shiite minister. This minister is expected to take on the Administrative Reform Ministry.L'Orient-Le Jour learned that Salam suggested Nasser Saidi, a former economy minister and deputy governor of Lebanon’s Banque du Liban (BDL), for the role in a proposed 24-member cabinet. Salam reportedly put forward Saidi's name after Berri blocked the candidacy of economist Lamia Moubayed for the same position on Thursday, stalling the cabinet formation process.Reacting to the developments, Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai on Friday denounced what he called a “return to the principle of sharing the spoils” in government formation....
BEIRUT — Cabinet formation talks led by Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam faced a setback Thursday as Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, representing the Amal-Hezbollah alliance, demanded input on the selection of the fifth Shiite minister. This minister is expected to take on the Administrative Reform Ministry.L'Orient-Le Jour learned that Salam suggested Nasser Saidi, a former economy minister and deputy governor of Lebanon’s Banque du Liban (BDL), for the role in a proposed 24-member cabinet. Salam reportedly put forward Saidi's name after Berri blocked the candidacy of economist Lamia Moubayed for the same position on Thursday, stalling the cabinet formation process.Reacting to the developments, Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai on Friday denounced what he called a “return to the principle of sharing the spoils” in government...
Israel continues attacks on southern Lebanon, demolishes buildings in Bint Jbeil