The President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, surrounded by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, and the Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, in Baabda on Feb. 8, 2025. (Credit: Photo taken from the Facebook page of the Presidency of the Republic)
"With Saint Maron’s blessing." With a smile, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri addressed journalists on Saturday as he exited the Baabda Presidential Palace, signaling that the formation of President Joseph Aoun’s first government was imminent after a three-week wait. This announcement came after intense negotiations between Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Berri. The president and the prime minister had secured Berri’s approval for the appointment of Fadi Makki, a former senior official, to the Ministry of State for Administrative Development. Makki’s nomination marked him as the fifth Shiite minister unaffiliated with the Amal-Hezbollah duo, in exchange for the appointment of their candidate, Yassine Jaber, to the key Finance Ministry. This decision was crucial for Aoun and Salam to ensure the two major Shiite parliamentary blocs...
"With Saint Maron’s blessing." With a smile, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri addressed journalists on Saturday as he exited the Baabda Presidential Palace, signaling that the formation of President Joseph Aoun’s first government was imminent after a three-week wait. This announcement came after intense negotiations between Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Berri. The president and the prime minister had secured Berri’s approval for the appointment of Fadi Makki, a former senior official, to the Ministry of State for Administrative Development. Makki’s nomination marked him as the fifth Shiite minister unaffiliated with the Amal-Hezbollah duo, in exchange for the appointment of their candidate, Yassine Jaber, to the key Finance Ministry. This decision was crucial for Aoun and Salam to ensure the two major Shiite parliamentary...