Prime Minister Nawaf Salam was received by Maronite Patriarch Béchara Raï in Bkerké on April 9, 2025. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Wednesday that the issue of Hezbollah’s weapons would "soon" be brought before the Cabinet, amid growing domestic and international pressure for the party to disarm. Hezbollah has also indicated its willingness to discuss disarmament if Israel withdraws from occupied areas in southern Lebanon.
Speaking after a meeting in Bkirki with Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai, Salam said the government would also press ahead with restructuring the country’s banking sector in the upcoming meeting of joint parliamentary committees, as well as preparing for municipal elections, scheduled for May, particularly in Beirut.
"The monopoly of weapons and the issue of extending the authority of the state over the entire territory will soon be discussed in Cabinet," Salam said following the visit. He said he had asked relevant ministers, especially the defense minister, to update him on progress regarding those issues.
"Israel must completely withdraw from the five points it continues to occupy in southern Lebanon. We are working on the application of Resolution 1701. I have not been informed of threats concerning the resumption of war," he added.
Talks on Hezbollah’s disarmament have gained momentum following the group's significant losses during the latest war with Israel, which lasted from Oct. 8, 2023, to Nov. 27, 2024. Hezbollah, weakened by the collapse of its Syrian ally, President Bashar al-Assad and Israeli attacks, saw many of its senior commanders and fighters killed and a substantial portion of its arsenal destroyed.
Under the cease-fire terms, the Lebanese Army is to maintain exclusive control over weapons south of the Litani River.
Salam also said he briefed the patriarch on discussions with U.S. Middle East Deputy Envoy Morgan Ortagus, who visited Beirut over the weekend. Ortagus reiterated Washington’s call for Hezbollah’s disarmament and urged Lebanon to implement long-delayed reforms to address its economic crisis.
Asked about the stalled investigation into the 2020 Beirut port explosion, Salam called for judicial independence and stressed the need to let justice take its course without obstacles.
Bank restructuring
On restructuring the banking sector, Salam said the government was working intensively on a draft law to reform the crippled system, a key demand of the International Monetary Fund.
"We are proud of what we have achieved, particularly in terms of appointments and accelerating work on legislative projects tied to reforms," he said, adding that "Bkirki is a national reference for all."
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Bank restructuring: Government gives itself more time to overcome banking lobby challenges
The Cabinet on Tuesday resumed its review of the banking sector restructuring bill during a meeting at the Grand Serail, approving the rationale behind the legislation. The bill is one of two measures the IMF has requested Lebanon pass by the end of April to signal its commitment to reforms, alongside amendments to the country’s banking secrecy law.
Debate over the restructuring bill had intensified among ministers, with some criticizing the government for pushing forward on a law they said was only recently circulated and merited deeper discussion.
Municipality of Beirut
On the municipal elections scheduled for May, Salam said the government was committed to holding the vote on time.
"Municipalities in Beirut must reflect parity and pluralism," Salam said. "If some fear that balance will not be respected within Beirut’s municipality, I discussed several ideas with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, including the option of adopting closed lists."
Power-sharing within Beirut’s municipal council has become a flashpoint ahead of the May 18 elections. The debate intensified on Monday, with officials voicing concerns over preserving the longstanding balance between Christian and Muslim communities.
Grand Mufti Abdel Latif Derian, representing the Sunni community, warned against any "fragmentation" of the municipality, while MPs from the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) said the power-sharing arrangement was "in danger" in Beirut and called on authorities to safeguard it.
Lebanon’s political system is built on a delicate sectarian balance, with key posts allocated among the country’s religious communities. In Beirut’s municipality, executive authority is held by the governor, who is appointed by the Interior Ministry, while legislative authority belongs to the 24-member municipal council. Although the mayor presides over the council, the governor’s approval is required to implement its decisions. Unlike parliamentary elections, where Beirut is divided into two constituencies, the entire capital is represented by a single municipal council.
Separately, Salam met with Jacques de Lajugie, economic adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron, at the Grand Serail to discuss preparations for a planned international conference on Lebanon’s reconstruction to be hosted this year. Salam stressed the need for the conference to be held "as soon as possible" and briefed Lajugie on the government’s reform efforts and the country's economic and financial situation.
